LANTANA, Fla. — While Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris visited Orlando and Jacksonville on Monday, her husband was campaigning in South Florida.
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Douglas Emhoff spoke at an early voting event held at the Lantana Road Branch Library near Lantana and said, "everything is on the line" in this election.
"Our democracy, health care, our lives itself because of the pandemic, and the failure of this administration on the pandemic. We have to change course right now. We can't wish it away," Emhoff said.
He took the opportunity to take multiple shots at President Trump's response to the coronavirus, economic record and pursuit to repeal Obamacare.
Emhoff urged the public to vote for change and improve the country's response to COVID-19 as cases rebound this fall in multiple states.
"(Joe Biden and Harris) will be ready on day one to get us out of this mess," Emhoff said.
He said once a vaccine is created for the virus, a Biden-Harris administration will have a plan to distribute it safely to the entire public.
"It's going to be fairly and equitably and evenly distributed, so everyone has access to the vaccine," Emhoff said.
He called President Trump's attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act during the pandemic "outrageous."
"Health care is a right, not just a privilege for the few," Emhoff said.
Following his speech to voters, he spoke one-on-one with WPTV NewsChannel 5 anchor Kelley Dunn about early voting kicking off in Florida.
"It's democracy in action, and it just shows people are excited to vote. They want to vote, and they're going to do whatever it takes to vote," Emhoff said.
He said a Biden-Harris administration will not only reform health care and the economy but bring the country together.
"They want leadership, and they also want unity, and I think Joe and Kamala are going to address that rather than all this division you hear from (the Trump) administration," Emhoff said.
Emhoff, a practicing attorney, is a partner at a California law firm with offices in Washington, D.C.
If Biden and Harris are elected, he would become the country's first, "second gentleman."
He said there is not much time to focus on that right now, but he knows it would be an incredible honor and platform.
"There are issues that I care about that are important, like access to justice. I am a lawyer and have been for many years. I'm passionate about pro bono legal services, providing opportunities to all, access to economic opportunities, fairness, the rule of law. These are things I've been fighting for 30 years and will continue to do so if, hopefully, I'm given that role," Emhoff said.
Emhoff said he is encouraged by the number of Floridians who are voting early.
"Your vote is your voice. Exercise your right to vote and do it early," Emhoff said.
Lantana was the first of three South Florida campaign stops for Emhoff Monday. He also greeted voters in Plantation and Aventura.