The Times. Always fair and balanced.
Emily L. MahoneyTimes staff
Published Yesterday
Joe Biden was supposed to be standing next to Charlie Crist.
The two Democrats planned a rally for late September, a political risk with an unpopular president that Crist’s team was willing to take because he needed a shot of momentum against Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Instead, eight days and one monstrous hurricane after the date of the nixed event, Biden was on TV with DeSantis, thanking him for the state’s cooperation with the federal government to help make Floridians’ lives whole. The president said the Republican governor had done a “good job” responding to the disaster.
Biden, DeSantis and Crist have all said that Florida’s arduous recovery should rise above politics. But the stark contrast between what Democrats had hoped to achieve with a presidential visit and what transpired after the storm underscores how Hurricane Ian has disrupted Florida’s race for governor.
“The coffin was already being built (for Crist’s campaign) and this was another nail,” Democratic pollster Steven Vancore said. “For the president to give ... an endorsement for the job (DeSantis) is doing, how does Charlie recover from that? I wouldn’t say it was the final blow, but it dang near was as close as it gets.”
Asked about Biden’s praise of DeSantis at a hurricane donation drive event in Gulfport, Crist downplayed its significance.
“What I think is important is to thank all the first responders, the hard work that they’re doing down there,” he said. “And I want to tell you this: I am so glad that President Biden came to Florida. ... The guy has a heart of gold and I really appreciate his leadership.”
When a reporter asked if he was surprised by Biden’s praise, Crist paused, then said: “No.”
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2022/10/13/how-hurricane-ian-changed-florida-governors-race/