Vice President Joe Biden toured Florida Monday, attending voter-registration events and campaigning for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
About 500 people braved the rain in Sarasota to attend the public rally.
Biden said Florida is an important swing state in this presidential election, and he encouraged voters to support his fellow Democrat.
He reminded the crowd that polls show that Clinton is in a tight race against Republican Donald Trump in the Sunshine State.
"Don't put yourself in the position of waking up on Wednesday morning, after the general election, where Florida has lost, and has in the past, by 290 votes or 3,400 votes and say, 'If I just took my neighbor,’” Biden said.
"As usual, Florida holds the key. No, no, no, I'm not being...that's not hyperbole. We win Florida, Hillary wins Florida, there is absolutely zero path for this man to make it to the White House."
Biden said a Trump presidency means a step backward.
"Not only economically, in terms of foreign policy, but in terms of rational social process, civil rights, civil liberties, the rights for the LGBTQ community, the rights of people with serious physical problems...I could go down the list."
Glenda Williams, who attended to show her support for Clinton, said she would have voted for Biden if he ran for president. But she’s thrilled a woman is running.
“It's time for us to have a female president,” Williams said. “It's long past time."
Paul Anarumo said he came looking to be inspired.
“All the doom and gloom that we have and what the Trump people are talking about; I want to hear the opposite. I feel that we are already great and that we have many bright horizons ahead of us and so that's what I'm looking for - a little inspiration,” Anarumo said.
Biden reminded the crowd that they must register to vote by Oct. 11 if they want to vote in the general election.
Copyright 2020 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7. To see more, visit WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7. 9(MDAyMTYyMTU5MDEyOTc4NzE4ODNmYWEwYQ004))
