In a recent campaign rally in Florida, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff took the opportunity to criticize Donald Trump and Project 2025, despite the state’s strong Republican leanings. Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, made a surprise appearance in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, as he wrapped up his tour of swing states in the northeast.
Emhoff expressed his belief that Florida remains a competitive battleground. “We can win Florida. We should win Florida!” he declared to an enthusiastic crowd at a Get Out the Early Vote rally held at the OB Johnson Center in Hallandale Beach, part of the Democratic stronghold of Broward County. However, recent polling suggests otherwise, with Trump leading Harris by around six points in the latest FiveThirtyEight.com average, a state he won comfortably in both 2016 and 2020.
Despite the challenging political landscape, Emhoff’s visit holds particular significance due to the closely contested U.S. Senate race in Florida, where incumbent Republican Rick Scott faces off against Democratic challenger and former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. The campaign has been heavily focused on women’s healthcare issues, especially regarding Amendment 4, a ballot initiative that aims to revoke Florida’s stringent six-week abortion ban, pending approval by a 60% majority.
Emhoff wasted no time addressing concerns regarding women’s reproductive rights, condemning Trump as the instigator behind the erosion of Roe v. Wade. “Make no mistake, Donald Trump is no friend to women. He has proven himself to be a threat to women. Now he claims to be a friend to women. Would he protect you? Of course not. Trump is proud of it. He brags about stripping away Roe v. Wade,” he stated, sparking chants of “Yes on 4!” from supporters.
Mucarsel-Powell also took the stage to emphasize her commitment to safeguarding healthcare and defending reproductive rights. “I will protect healthcare and people with pre-existing conditions. I will stand for women and children to ensure we protect them against attacks on their reproductive freedom,” she asserted.
In addition to discussing reproductive rights, Emhoff addressed critical topics such as gun violence, the economy, immigration, and the Republicans’ so-called extremist Project 2025 agenda. He expressed disappointment that polling numbers, less than two weeks before the election, indicated a tight race. “It shouldn’t be this close,” he remarked.
While some speculated that Emhoff would touch on the back-to-back hurricanes that impacted Florida, he focused instead on Democratic talking points, including Trump’s controversial remarks about Adolf Hitler’s military leaders. “We really need to listen to what Donald Trump is saying, what’s coming out of his mouth. We lived through it when he was president. This time around, he poses an even greater threat – to the economy, to women, and our very lives,” Emhoff warned. “We can’t look away from this. This is as real as it gets. He’s completely unfit, unhinged and un-American. We need to turn the page on this chapter of American history.”
Following his address in Hallandale, Emhoff moved on to a rally and fundraiser in Coral Gables, Miami, strategically close to Trump’s recent outreach to Latino voters. Both political camps are keenly focused on South Florida’s significant Hispanic community as the election approaches.
Supporters at the Hallandale Beach event welcomed Emhoff’s visit, seeing it as a sign that Democrats remain engaged in Florida. “Every weekend, the Trump supporters are out here on street corners with their flags. It gets depressing,” remarked Anthony Hill, a Democratic voter from Lauderdale Lakes. “I don’t think Kamala is going to win here, but if we can win some of the down-ballot races we can show that we’re still alive.”
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