VP Biden Joins Crist For South Florida Campaign Stops
FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/AP) - Vice President Joe Biden joined Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist for campaign appearances Monday at Broward College's Coconut Creek campus and a Boca Raton synagogue.
Biden didn't waste any time addressing the former governor's political party switcheroo.
"Hell, (Crist) didn't leave the Republican Party. It left him," Biden told a crowd of about 600 seniors, later saying "one political party in particular has changed so fundamentally that they don't view things from the same prism."
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Crist and Gov. Rick Scott couldn't be farther apart when it comes to major issues; especially on minimum wage, health care, immigration, climate change, gay marriage and medical marijuana.
Biden focused on Crist's vow to support increasing public education funds, expanding Medicaid to roughly 1 million Floridians and protecting the environment.
"No state in America is in more jeopardy on climate change than yours but you have a governor that says he's not convinced. What do you need to be convinced? Miami underwater?" Biden asked.
Both campaigns have used negative attack ads during the heated race.
Crist has said Scott has no integrity and has made it a point to remind voters that Scott's former hospital chain paid $1.7 billion in Medicare fraud fines.
Scott has called Crist a do-nothing governor and said Crist's campaign took contributions from Ponzi-schemer Scott Rothstein.
"Why is it all negative against Charlie? Because they don't want to debate the issues. When you don't want to debate, you attack," Biden said.
Biden, speaking to a predominantly senior crowd, harped on the fact that that Republicans like Scott would jeopardize Medicare by turning it into a voucher program and they could be most affected.
Crist and Gov. Scott are virtually tied in the polls leading up to the November 4th election.
"This is the single most important governor's race in the United States of America," Biden said of the election. "Make sure we win it."
Crist and Scott are scheduled to have their second debate on Wednesday, October 15th at Broward College's main campus in Davie. CBS4 is hosting the event which will be televised across the state. If there is an issue you you like the candidates to address 'd like to submit a question for the candidates, go to CBSMiami's Facebook page and submit your question. CBS4 anchor Eliott Rodriguez may ask it during the debate.
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