Screenshot of video of Barack Obama endorsing Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in new ad.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama is endorsing Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Florida’s race for U.S. Senate. Mucarsel-Powell is challenging Republican incumbent Rick Scott in the Nov. 5 election.
“Florida, you hear it every two years — this election is too important to sit out. Well, it’s true this year, too. That’s why we have to elect Debbie Mucarsel-Powell to the U.S. Senate,” Obama says to start off the 52-second video endorsement, released by the Mucarsel-Powell campaign early Friday morning.
The former president highlighted the former South Florida U.S. Rep.’s background, noting that she grew up under a dictatorship in Ecuador and went “from working in a donut shop for minimum wage to serving in Congress.”
“Debbie’s story isn’t typical, but then, neither was mine. And maybe in this election, that’s exactly what we need,” Obama said.
“It is an incredible honor to receive President Barack Obama’s support and endorsement in this critical race,” Mucarsel-Powell said in a written statement.
“It was President Obama who led the historic effort to pass the Affordable Care Act, which now provides health care for over 4 million Floridians — and I plan to continue that critical work in the halls of the U.S. Senate.
“President Obama’s unmatched leadership and legacy of hope, change, and unity have inspired so many of us to follow the calling of public service. I couldn’t be more proud to have his support as we work towards creating a more united Florida where everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, can live and thrive in the Sunshine State.
Mucarsel-Powell served one term in Congress (2019-2021) representing Monroe and part of Miami-Dade County before losing her bid for reelection to Republican Carlos Giménez by 2 percentage points in 2020.
Polls have shown Scott with a steady lead over Mucarsel-Powell throughout this election cycle.
A Napolitan News Service online survey of 774 likely voters released Thursday showed Scott leading Mucarsel-Powell by six points, 50%-44%. The survey was conducted between Sept. 25-27 with a margin of error of +/- 3.5.