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In
his first political event in a state he lost in 2020, Biden is
expected to take aim at Florida Republican Governor DeSantis
during a campaign event for Democratic candidate for governor
Charlie Crist, and then attend a fundraiser.
The president will also go after Florida Republican Senator Rick
Scott, who has proposed to "sunset" Social Security and Medicare
if the U.S. Congress does not pass new legislation to extend
them, according to a White House official.
The president is expected to offer his most sharply targeted
attack yet on DeSantis, administration officials told Reuters.
Biden and DeSantis have clashed over multiple issues including
COVID-19 vaccines, abortion and LGBT rights.
Biden met DeSantis last month during a trip to the state to
assess devastation from Hurricane Ian. They greeted each other
warmly and stood shoulder to shoulder as they met with victims
of the hurricane.
A lot has changed since Tuesday's trip had to be rescheduled
from late September due to the hurricane. In recent weeks, the
White House has lowered its earlier optimism about the midterm
elections and administration officials say they are now worried
Democrats could lose control of both chambers of Congress.
Recent polls have shown Democrats, who once had comfortable
leads in some Senate races, on a knife's edge. Senate elections
that were considered toss-ups between the two parties are now
leaning Republican as high inflation persists.
Losing control of one or both houses of Congress would
profoundly shape the next two years of Joe Biden's presidency,
with Republicans expected to block legislation on family leave,
abortion, policing and other Biden priorities.
The last time a Democrat won a presidential or Senate election
in Florida was 2012, with Republicans holding an advantage in
registered voters in the state, 5.2 million versus 4.9 million.
But unaffiliated voters stands at 3.9 million and represent an
increasingly important part of the electorate.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Tom Hogue)
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