US Midterms: Biden to Campaign Opposite DeSantis

story

Oct 17, 2022

Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images [via Newsweek]story last updated Oct 17, 2022

The Facts

On Sunday, the White House announced that Pres. Biden will attend a campaign event in Florida for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, who currently trails incumbent Republican Ron DeSantis in the polls.
Biden’s appearance will be a chance for him to show support for a key Democrat while also making his case against a potential presidential challenger in 2024, should Biden run for re-election and DeSantis toss his hat into the race.

The Spin

Democratic narrative

Despite still being low, Biden’s approval numbers have crept upward lately. Having the president appear with Crist and provide free publicity could provide the Democratic candidate with a much-needed boost against DeSantis, who is winning the fundraising race by a large margin. Biden's presence in the Sunshine State means that a DeSantis victory isn't automatic.

NBC

Republican narrative

Crist can’t seem to figure out that his embrace of Biden and his policies have buried him. But if he wants to double down and let DeSantis roll to victory, he should let Biden campaign with him. This appearance will make it easier for DeSantis to tie Crist to Biden’s divisive messaging, and to his freedom-killing policies related to education, the environment, and the economy.