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Orlando Sentinel

Politics

Steven Lemongello and Ingrid Cotto

Obama accuses Trump of COVID-19 'incompetence' at Orlando rally

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff gets a warm welcome from Biden supporters as he arrives for Presidential candidate Joe Biden's visit to Georgia at a drive-in event at the amphitheatre at Lakewood on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Campaigning in Orlando, former President Barack Obama lashed out at President Donald Trump on Tuesday and urged state voters to turn out "like never before" to put Joe Biden in the White House.

Obama focused on the president's response to the coronavirus pandemic, including his efforts to downplay it at recent campaign rallies even as cases surge nationwide.

"He's jealous of COVID's media coverage," Obama said, adding that instead of focusing on controlling its spread, "He's turned the White House into a hot zone."

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden takes off his jacket, arriving at his drive-in rally event during his visit to Georgia at the amphitheatre at Lakewood on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Obama added: "Florida, we cannot afford four more years of this. We cannot afford this kind of incompetence and indifference."

Obama urged all Floridians to vote for Biden and if they've already voted, to help friends and family get to the polls.

Polls have shown a razor-thin margin between former Vice President Biden and Trump, so both candidates and their allies are campaigning nearly non-stop in the state. By Tuesday morning, about 6.4 million Floridians had either voted by mail or cast ballots at an early-voting location.

Former president Barack Obama waves during a stop at a Biden Victory Center to thank volunteers in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, October 27, 2020. Earlier in the day Obama rallied Biden supporters at a drive-in rally at Tinker Field in Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

The drive-in rally, held outside Camping World Stadium in the park that was once Tinker Field, drew supporters in 273 cars, the campaign said. The vehicles wrapped around the podium, and drivers honked their horns and cheered in approval as Obama spoke. The audience was invitation-only, as the Biden campaign sought to limit crowd size and maintain social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer were among the speakers who warmed up the crowd.

"This is the biggest drive-up event that's been held in Florida," Dyer said. 'How about that?"

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at a drive-in rally event during his visit to Georgia at the amphitheatre at Lakewood on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

"You are the most important voters in this country," Dyer said. "We need to win Florida, and we need to win the I-4 corridor for Biden-Harris."

Fried said the work done by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the way for higher office for herself and many other women. Ginsburg was succeeded Monday by Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett, who is expected to turn the Supreme Court to the right.

"That is what's on the ballot this year," Fried said. "We have to make sure that Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy is not lost."

Biden campaign volunteer Mary Lou Nethers said she was "very hopeful" about Biden's chances of winning the state.

"I'm seeing a lot of Republicans come into our office for signs and 'Republicans for Biden' buttons and they're giving generous donations," said Nethers, who was sometimes drowned out by her friend honking their SUV's horn. "So that makes me think a good number of this Republican turnout is for Biden."

University of Central Florida senior Emma Trittin said her age group of 18- to 29-year-olds was coming out in force this year, with more than 200,000 voting early.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's drive-in rally event during his visit to Georgia at the amphitheatre at Lakewood on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

"I think it speaks volumes," Trittin said. "I think Floridians are really fed up with how the past four years have gone with the Trump administration. ... And there's still a week left until the election. Youth are really stepping up and voting because they know that they have power in their voice."

The trip comes after Obama held a drive-in car rally for the Biden campaign in Miami on Saturday.

Biden himself is scheduled to be in Broward County and Tampa on Thursday, part of a last-week campaign swing through the crucial swing state.