On a rainy Saturday, Charles and Dottie Lacey traveled from Madison County to Tallahassee for the 24th annual Democratic Club of North Florida’s Barbecue and Political Rally. Attendees enjoyed a meal of pulled pork, cole slaw, and baked beans, served by local officials, and heard candidates promote key Democratic issues such as reproductive rights, and protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
However, no one addressed the pressing question of President Joe Biden’s candidacy. Concerns about Biden’s capability to lead another term have intensified following a poor debate performance in June. While the White House insists Biden is committed to his re-election, analysts and Democratic leaders speculate that his withdrawal may be inevitable.
For the nearly 200 attendees at the rally, the focus remained on local races. Calls for party unity were a common theme, with Charles Lacey expressing optimism about Democratic chances in the upcoming elections after hearing from candidates like state senate hopeful Daryl Parks.
The rally comes at a critical time for Democrats. Nationally, there is considerable division over Biden’s candidacy. In Florida, the state party is recovering from significant losses, including a decisive re-election victory for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Locally, the Democratic share of registered voters in Leon County has dropped below 50% for the first time.
Despite widespread calls for Biden to step aside, John Hedrick, a Biden delegate and rally host, remains hopeful about Democratic prospects, emphasizing the importance of unity against Trump.
Local infighting within the Leon County Democratic Party is also a concern, but on Saturday, leaders downplayed these divisions, focusing instead on common goals. Ryan Ray, chair of the local Democratic Executive Committee, highlighted the unified opposition to Republican influence in local politics.
Despite efforts to boost morale, some activists, like Dave Jacobsen, noted that Democratic spirits have not been this low since the early 2000s. He reminisced about the first barbecue rally in 2001, where former Attorney General Janet Reno energized the crowd, only to lose in the primaries later.
Daryl Parks received the loudest applause at the rally, urging attendees to focus on local issues and maintain Democratic unity. Mayor John Dailey also stressed the importance of turning out the vote for the Biden-Harris ticket in the upcoming presidential election.
Both Jacobsen and Hedrick, who will be Biden delegates at the Democratic National Convention, support Biden but will back Harris if he withdraws. Dottie Lacey, reflecting the sentiments of many, expressed unwavering support for any Democratic candidate over a Republican.
Source: AOL news
