A.G. Gancarski
Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden had no need to campaign in Florida during the primary.
But with the campaign shifted into general election mode, Biden held his first “virtual rally” in Tampa on Thursday. The event could have gone better.
Technical glitches overwhelmed the broadcast as the production went on, with the stream cutting out completely 25 minutes into the late-starting event on both Facebook and YouTube. Though the broadcast came back, inconsistent sound and the occasional air horn suffused the telecast.
Even by the time Biden spoke, distortion stole the show, stripping syllables out of the veteran politician’s stump speech lines, which included riffs about how President Donald Trump was “warned” about COVID-19 but didn’t take action quickly enough.
The Democratic candidate hit standard themes for the most part.
But some themes, such as the discussion of the “hollowed-out … slashed to the bone” unemployment system, were unique to Florida.
As he wrapped his short address, a birdlike sound dominated the audio.
Biden’s Tampa presentation was after a more low-key “appearances” in the state, ones for which the limited live media coverage.
The Tampa event was the big show, though, with a robust supporting cast before Biden’s remarks.
Rep. Charlie Crist recalled “reaching across the aisle” as Governor and working with the Obama/Biden administration.
Rep. Kathy Castor lauded Biden’s “empathy and caring.”
Sen. Janet Cruz said “Florida believes in Joe and Joe believes in Florida,” offering evidence in the form of Biden’s support for better funding for Florida public schools.
Cruz maligned the Governor and Attorney General for walking in lockstep with Trump.
Rizzo extolled Biden as “the man who helped pass the Affordable Care Act and get us out of the Great Recession,” currently running on “the most progressive agenda” of any candidate “in fifty years,” an era that dates back to the George McGovern campaign of 1972.
Biden hopes November goes better for him than the Democratic nominee that year.
Republicans, for their part, celebrated the technical gaffes.
“Joe Biden’s ‘virtual rally’ was a fundamentally unserious comedy of errors that displayed the depths of his campaign’s incompetency. Even if he had addressed his credible sexual assault allegations, no one would have been able to understand through the awful audio. If he can’t run a livestream, how can we expect him to run our country,” asked Trump Victory spokesperson Emma Vaughn.
3 comments
Jerry Green
May 7, 2020 at 6:36 pm
We were fine with the “technical troubles” as you describe them. Glad to hear from Vice President Biden.
Frankie M.
May 7, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Trump talking about someone else’s sexual harassment allegations for a change is refreshing. Maybe he should just stick with sleepy Joe and talk up his own stamina?? How would anybody know about these technical issues when everyone else is watching tiger king? Like Green Day front man Billie Joe said wake me up in September ends.
Frankie M.
May 7, 2020 at 10:42 pm
Maybe instead of talking in his ad Joe can show Trump touring a mask factory sans mask while listening to “Live and Let Die” in the background? Actions speak louder than words amirite? Sorry you didn’t get a chance to cross examine Joe, AG. So what if he has a hair fetish. Who doesn’t like Pert Plus? Better than a foot fetish. That’s just weird Rex Ryan.
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