POOL

Tampa, Florida - 29 October 2020

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joe Biden, (D) Presidential Nominee:

"Millions Americans have already voted over 75, I'm told, 75,000,000, and millions more are going to vote before this is over. I believe when you use your power, the power of the vote. We literally are going to change the course of this country for generations to come."

+++WHITE FLASH++++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joe Biden, (D) Presidential Nominee:

"More than 225,000 people dead -  225,000 thousand. The estimates are, if we acted responsibly, there'll would have been 160,000 fewer dead than there are today.  

+++WHITE FLASH++++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joe Biden, (D) Presidential Nominee:

"We shouldn't be politicizing the race for a vaccine. We should be planning for its safe use and free and equitable distribution. Providing PPE (personal protective equipment) for national standards for schools, businesses to open safely."

+++BLACK FRAMES++++

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joe Biden, (D) Presidential Nominee:

"We have to vote to ensure the full promise of this country. We have to vote to meet the challenge of climate crisis because, you know, in Florida, it is a crisis. We're all seeing the impact more than most. Devastating hurricanes that lay waste whole communities. The economic toll is astounding, and it grows every year. But the human toll is worse. Lost lives, lost homes. Small businesses shattered."  

+++BLACK FRAMES++++

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joe Biden, (D) Presidential Nominee:

"We can unleash American ingenuity in manufacturing and build a stronger, more climate resistant nation, creating millions of new high paying jobs. We can change the path we're on. We've got to act now. Time is running out. This country can't afford four more years of Trump, who thinks he's only responsible to the people who voted for him."

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4295035

A little rain didn’t stop Joe Biden on Thursday night in Tampa, Florida. But a lot of rain did.

The Democratic presidential nominee was forced to wrap his speech up early at a drive-in rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds after a brief shower turned into a torrential downpour.

Biden picked up his binder and dashed off the stage as the rain came down, scattering the crowd of people who had gathered near the stage to hear him speak. The campaign said 285 cars were there.

Biden focused his remarks on President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and his efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act.  

"I'm not going to shut down the economy," Biden said. "I'm not going to shut down the country. I'm going to shut down the virus."

Biden also hit Trump hard on the issue of climate change.

"He doesn't have any real answers," Biden said.

"We can unleash American ingenuity in manufacturing and build a stronger, more climate resistant nation, creating millions of new high paying jobs."

"We can change the path we're on. We've got to act now. Time is running out," he said.