Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ailing.) criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for not assembly with President Biden whereas he visited the state Friday to survey hurricane harm, calling the choice “completely outrageous.”
The White Home informed CNN {that a} assembly between Biden and DeSantis was deliberate for Friday, however DeSantis’ workplace later mentioned no such assembly would happen, citing logistical issues.
“There’s a 1 % to 2 % probability it’s logistics. There’s a 98 % to 99 % probability it’s the optics,” Kinzinger mentioned in a CNN interview Saturday.
“Ron DeSantis, at the price of the profit to Florida, has determined his political marketing campaign can not have him meet with Joe Biden, the President of america, who in the end might be signing the checks that Florida goes to be begging for,” he continued.
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DeSantis is polling second within the GOP presidential main race and has harshly criticized Biden on the marketing campaign path.
“I couldn’t think about being governor of any state, having a tragedy like that, after which turning round and fascinated by how this might have an effect on my election,” Kinzinger mentioned.
Biden signed a catastrophe declaration for Florida on Thursday, permitting federal support to move into the state to assist restoration from flooding and wind harm.
DeSantis’ workplace mentioned safety issues for an workplace already coping with hurricane restoration made the assembly too burdensome.
“In these rural communities, and so quickly after affect, the safety preparations alone that might go into organising such a gathering would shut down ongoing restoration efforts,” DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern mentioned in a press release.
When requested a couple of potential assembly with the Florida governor on Saturday, Biden shrugged it off.
“I don’t know. He’s not going to be there,” he mentioned, in response to a pool report.
Biden mentioned he and the governor have been in “fixed contact” all through the restoration course of from Hurricane Idalia, which ravaged the state’s rural Huge Bend area this week. About 60,000 Floridians are nonetheless with out energy as of Saturday.
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