Florida

President Obama Travels to Miami, Speaks at Campaign Rally For Hillary Clinton

The president said Trump and Vladimir Putin have a "bromance" and mocked Marco Rubio's continued support of the GOP nominee

With less than 20 days until voters choose the next president of the United States, the current commander-in-chief was in Miami on Thursday talking about health care and stumping for his party’s nominee.

And President Barack Obama took Donald Trump to task for "dangerous" comments at Wednesday's debate, which he doubled down on Thursday, refusing to say he'd accept the results of the presidential election if he loses.

"When you try to sow the seeds of doubt in people's minds about the legitimacy of our elections," Obama said at a Hillary Clinton rally in Miami Gardens, "you're doing the work of our adversaries for them, because our democracy depends on people knowing that their vote matters."

Obama criticized Trump's party, including his one-time opponent Marco Rubio, the senator running for re-election in Florida, for sticking with Trump over Clinton despite his many recent political scandals.

"You used to criticize me for even talking to Russians. Now you're okay with your nominee having a bromance with Putin," Obama said to Republicans across the country.

He landed at Miami International Airport shortly after 1 p.m., joined on Air Force One by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. He was greeted by Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

Obama traveled to Miami-Dade College's Wolfson Campus, where he gave a speech regarding his signature health care policy. He promoted his health overhaul by saying that never in U.S. history has the uninsured rate been lower than it is today.

Amid some criticism of the law, Obama said it has worked. But, he added, "Now that doesn't mean it's perfect. No law is."

Obama said the Affordable Care Act is just a first step and that he recognizes the need for improvements. He said the law has helped slow the cost of health care inflation.

The president is pushing more young adults to enroll in insurance plans. This group is generally healthier and tends to help offset the cost of providing health care to older adults — and that helps keep premiums in check.

The next Affordable Care Act enrollment period begins Nov. 1.

Later in the day, Obama appeared at the campaign event for Clinton, the Democratic party nominee, at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, where the crowd's boos for Trump were met with Obama's now-famous response: "Don't boot, vote!"

Some of the president's most scathing comments were reserved for Rubio, who is locked in a tight Senate race with Patrick Murphy. Obama said it was "the height of cynicism" for Rubio to continue supporting Trump, whom he called a con artist during the Republican primary.

"I don't give a lot of credit for folks who are just now trying to walk away from Trump, although I will say I am even more confused by Republican politicians who still support Donald Trump. Marco Rubio is one of those people — how does that work?" Obama said.

He will depart from Miami International Airport around 6:45 p.m.

Motorists are advised that delays should be expected across Miami-Dade County as a result of the President’s visit, so be prepared to wait in traffic or seek alternate routes.

The President's trip to the area was schedule two weeks ago, but had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Matthew.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us