MIAMI — Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison is optimistic about his party’s chances in the Sunshine State, despite the electoral votes that went to Republicans in the last two presidential elections.
“Florida is in play,” Harrison told CBS News Miami in an interview Saturday. “Florida, Florida, Florida.”
“For the first time in 30 years, you have Democrats running for every seat in the House, Senate and state. [at] “at the congressional level,” he added.
Miami-Dade and Broward counties have both opted for President Biden in 2020while former President Donald Trump won the state by about three percentage points that year.
According to the latest figures posted on the Florida Department of State website, Florida has about 5.38 million registered Republicans and 4.35 million registered Democrats. There are also about 3.54 million unaffiliated voters.
Harrison argues that Florida Democrats were hampered in 2020 by the pandemic.
“Because of COVID, Democrats haven’t been able to put out a field operation, knock on doors, communicate with voters,” Harrison said.
Democrat Lucia Baez-Geller is challenging Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar in the House, while former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell attempts to impeach Republican Senator Rick Scott.
Republicans are spending four times as much as Democrats on advertising in the Senate race, according to AdImpact, which tracks campaign spending. But that doesn’t faze Harrison.
“I think we’re going to see an increase in resources,” Harrison said. “I’ve done a few tweets … in the last few days for Debbie, and we’re seeing money coming in.”
About a week after the apparent assassination attempt Regarding Trump in West Palm Beach, Harrison hopes the political rhetoric can be toned down in the final stretch before Election Day.
“We have to reject this violence on a case-by-case basis,” Harrison said. “And it’s sad to see these attempts. And I know that Vice President Harris has been threatened. President Biden has been threatened in the past. President Obama has been threatened in the past. This violence has to stop.”
Florida Republican Party Chairman Evan Power responded to Harrison’s remarks on CBS Miami, saying in a statement that “Democrats can say what they want, but here are the facts: Florida Republicans have more registrations, more fundraising and more work than Florida Democrats. Anyone who tells you that Florida is in play for Democrats should not be taken seriously.”
The last time Florida flipped blue in a presidential election was in 2012, when President Obama won by a margin of about one percentage point.
Steve Maugeri
