President Joe Biden blamed Republican opponent Donald Trump on Tuesday (23) for new restrictions on abortion in Florida during a campaign stop in Tampa, with Democrats doubling down on their intentions to win the state where Trump lives.
This month, the Florida Supreme Court cleared the way for an abortion ban starting May 1 after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women realize they are pregnant. The court also ordered that a ballot measure legalizing abortion until viability could be presented to voters this November.
The reversal of Roe v. Wade by the United States Supreme Court in 2022 opened the door for Florida and other states to establish their own laws regarding abortion. Trump campaigned in 2016 saying he would include justices to overturn Roe and nominated three who did so.
“Let’s be very clear: There is one person responsible for this nightmare,” Biden said. “He brags about it. Donald Trump,” Biden told supporters.
“It should be a constitutional right,” said Biden, regarding abortion. “This is not about states’ rights. It’s about women’s rights.”
Abortion is one of the top issues in the 2024 election. Democrats believe tough restrictions like those in Florida and Arizona, which maintained a 160-year-old abortion ban this month, will lead voters to support Biden. American voters overwhelmingly reject strict abortion bans, according to polls and state ballot initiatives.
Access to abortion almost no longer exists in southern states because of new laws, almost all of them supported by Republicans, which force women to seek the procedure in other states.
Trump's stance on the issue has been mixed in recent weeks. The Republican distanced himself from Arizona's decision to uphold a 160-year-old ban while also taking credit for appointing three Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. Wade and made statewide restrictions possible.
“Donald Trump is worried that voters will hold him accountable for the cruelty and chaos he created,” Biden said. “And let's go. He should be held accountable.”
At another campaign stop later, Biden told a small group of Democrats that he thinks “Florida is in play nationally.”
Battle for Florida
Florida has 30 Electoral College votes and has long been a coveted crucial state, but Republicans have opened up a lead over Democrats in recent years.
Trump won Florida in 2020 with 51.2% of the vote, compared to Biden's 47.9%. In 2022, Republican Ron DeSantis won the election for governor by a landslide, with 59.4% of the vote.
A compilation of polls from FiveThirtyEight, an election data website, shows Trump with a significant lead in Florida.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
