Biden’s trip to Orlando area postponed as Tropical Storm Ian approaches Fla.
President Biden’s scheduled trip to the Orlando area on Tuesday to rally Democrats has been postponed due to the approach of Tropical Storm Ian.
Biden had been set to appear Tuesday afternoon at the Harold and Ted Alfond Sports Center at Rollins College in Winter Park, according to organizer Jose Nunez.
The event would have also featured comedian Keegan-Michael Key.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, was scheduled to appear alongside Biden, but not U.S. Rep. Val Demings, the party’s U.S. Senate candidate.
But Tropical Storm Ian grew overnight in the Caribbean, with a path that could bring it to Florida next week as a hurricane. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency across the state.
“Due to storm Ian, we unfortunately have to postpone the grassroots event,” the party stated in an email Saturday. “Please stay safe and we will keep you posted as we work to reschedule the event soon.”
Biden was also scheduled to visit Fort Lauderdale earlier on Tuesday for an official event to talk about health care costs and protecting Medicare and Social Security. There was no further details on Saturday about that event.
The postponement is the second time that Biden has had to scrap plans to visit Central Florida in the last few months.
Biden had been scheduled to come to Orlando in July to address the annual
conference of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, as well as to speak at a Democratic National Committee event in Tampa.
But the trip was canceled after Biden tested positive for COVID-19.
Biden’s only visit to Florida as president was for a meeting with families of the Surfside condominium collapse last year.