HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — President Joe Biden was in South Florida for a full day of events scheduled in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
The visit comes amid early voting and a week before the crucial midterm elections on Nov. 8.
The president held events with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Florida senatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Val Demings.
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WATCH: President Joe Biden speaks in Hallandale Beach
The president delivered a speech on protecting Social Security, Medicare and lower prescription drug costs at a community center in Hallandale Beach.
Inflation is proving to be the front-line issue in the election, so he focused on his efforts to keep costs down for Florida seniors.
Biden said both Social Security and Medicare are currently "under siege" by Republicans.
"Here in Florida, 21% of the people over the age 65 [receive Social Security]," Biden said. "That's the second highest [percentage] of any state in the country."
The president said the reason he will continue to fight for these programs is that "everyone's entitled to be treated with dignity."
Biden attacked the pharmaceutical companies for raising drug costs, some as much as $1,000, despite no change in the quality of their products.
During his speech, the president also highlighted the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed in August. Starting in January, if pharmaceutical companies try to raise drug prices higher than the rate of inflation, they will have to write a check for the difference to Medicare. The new law will also cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month.
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He also hit back at Republicans who say that he and his policies have caused inflation in the U.S.
"If you have to take a prescription that costs you an arm and a leg and I reduce that, so you don't have to pay as much, it reduces your cost of living," Biden said. "It reduces inflation in your paycheck."
The president attacked Republican Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott's proposal to sunset Social Security in five years.
"It's so outrageous, you might not even believe it," Biden said. "You've been paying Social Security your whole life, you earned it. Now, these guys want to take it away. Who in the hell do they think they are?"
Biden then headed to Miami-Dade County where he participated in a reception with Crist in Golden Beach, Florida.
The president wrapped up the day at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens where he participated in a political event with both Demings and Crist.
Biden's visit comes as most polls show that both Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio hold leads in their races against Crist and Demings.
