Biden sounds alarm ahead of midterms, claiming 'democracy ... is at risk'



President Joe Biden is warning that U.S. democracy is on the line during the 2022 midterm election cycle.

"In our bones, we know democracy ... is at risk," Biden declared during a speech on Wednesday. He said that every individual has the ability to "preserve our democracy" and that he knows the nation will do so.

Democrats are striving to cling to control in both chambers of Congress when Americans head to the polls on Election Day next week — and some Americans have already cast their votes prior to Election Day. Biden, who is not on the ballot, has been facing dismal job approval numbers in polling for quite some time.

Biden pointed the finger toward former President Donald Trump, asserting that U.S. democracy is under assault "because the defeated former president" declined to accept the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

The current president went on to claim that "extreme MAGA Republicans," which he described as only a minority of the GOP but also as the "driving force" of the party, are seeking to "suppress the right of voters and subvert the electoral system itself." Biden claimed that they have "emboldened violence and intimidation of voters and election officials."

Biden opened his speech by discussing the recent assault perpetrated against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi. The suspect had reportedly asked, "Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?" Biden said that people who stormed the U.S. Capitol used "the very same words" on January 6, 2021.

WATCH LIVE: Biden delivers remarks on the state of democracy after attack on Paul Pelosi www.youtube.com

While Rep. Nancy Pelosi was not at home when the incident unfolded, the man charged in connection with the episode told authorities that he had intended to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage.

During an event in Florida on Tuesday, Biden sought to boost Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings — Sunshine State Gov. Ron DeSantis, an incumbent Republican, joked that the move marked "an in-kind contribution" to his reelection bid and that his campaign would be willing to "underwrite" Biden's sticking around until the end of the campaign cycle.

\u201c.@RonDeSantisFL \ud83d\udd25 response to Biden campaigning for @charliecrist in Florida today:\n\u201cI think it's an in-kind contribution to my campaign. I just want to make the offer public: we will underwrite him to stay in Florida for the rest of the campaign.\u201d \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40\u201d
— DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong (@DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong) 1667357138

DeSantis jokes that Biden campaigning against him is 'an in-kind contribution' to his reelection bid



President Joe Biden sought to boost Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings during an event in Florida on Tuesday, but Sunshine State Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis joked that Biden's move to campaign against him represents "an in-kind contribution" to his campaign.

DeSantis also quipped that his campaign would be willing to "underwrite" Biden to remain in the state for the remainder of the campaign, saying that if the president wants to stick around, "it'll be on our dime."

\u201c.@RonDeSantisFL \ud83d\udd25 response to Biden campaigning for @charliecrist in Florida today:\n\u201cI think it's an in-kind contribution to my campaign. I just want to make the offer public: we will underwrite him to stay in Florida for the rest of the campaign.\u201d \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40\u201d
— DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong (@DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong) 1667357138

Biden has been underwater in job approval polling for quite some time.

The Florida governor has become a popular figure on the political right who many view as a potential future GOP presidential contender. During a debate last month, Crist pressed DeSantis on whether he would serve for a full four-year term if he secures reelection as governor. DeSantis quipped that "the only worn out old donkey" he is seeking to "put out to pasture is Charlie Crist."

Democrats are aiming to cling to control of the House and Senate during the election contests around the nation next week.

Demings is running against incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.

Crist previously served as Florida governor from early 2007 through early 2011 after being elected to the role as a Republican. Crist lost the 2010 U.S. Senate race to Republican Marco Rubio while running as an independent. He later lost the 2014 Florida governor's race to incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Scott while running as a Democrat. Crist later served as a Democratic lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives but resigned from that job earlier this year as he focused on his gubernatorial run.

On the heels of his primary victory in August, Crist said that he did not want the votes of DeSantis supporters, and he accused the governor's backers of harboring hate within their hearts.

Charlie Crist speaks in St. Pete for first time since accepting Democratic nomination for governor youtu.be