Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried is slamming her Republican counterpart for calling abortion rights a "manufactured issue."
A day after President Joe Biden campaigned in Tampa and criticized the state's impending six-week abortion ban, Fried told press that there is bipartisan support for women's health care. And she said that will help Democrats compete in November despite underperformance the last two election cycles.
"We know that we have an opportunity to flip the state because independent voters are breaking for Democrats 65-70% In recent election cycles here in our state and reproductive rights are taking center stage this election cycle," Fried said.
But Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power said voters care far more about issues that Biden and Democrats in Washington have ignored.
"Floridians' top issues are immigration, the economy and inflation; in all three areas Joe Biden has failed," he told The Associated Press. "Instead of coming to talk to Floridians about manufactured issues, he should get to work solving the real issues that he has failed to lead on."
Fried and other Democratic leaders called the dismissal of women's health care as "audacious."
"I thought when something is manufactured, that meant something is fabricated, or it's made up," said state Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Miami Gardens Democrat. "Here's what I'll tell you: Unfortunately, you can't make up or fabricate something that's now considered law."
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat who greeted Biden at the airport for his visit, said the President's decision to have a major policy speech on abortion in Florida showed his recognition of the threat by Republicans on women.
"I've heard from doctors who have already left the state of Florida and med students who are not going to train here because they will not be able to get training for the full range of reproductive care," she said.
Fried said Republicans made the issue central this election cycle by passing laws, and "they will have blood on their hands."
But Power said voters in Florida support the state's law and the sanctity of life.
"The only people with 'blood on their hands' are the people trying to use the ability to kill babies up until the moment of birth for political gain," Power posted on social media.
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