Jacksonville (Florida): Describing Hillary Clinton as the most qualified candidate to ever run for presidency, the outgoing US President Barack Obama today asked his countrymen to elect her as his successor, arguing that she would move the country forward.
“The good news is you don’t just have to vote against this guy (Donald Trump), because you have a candidate who’s actually worthy of your vote. Somebody who is smart. Somebody who is steady. Somebody who is tested, perhaps the most qualified person ever to run for this office — our next President, Hillary Clinton,” Obama told his supporters in Miami, Florida.
Florida, like several other presidential elections in the past has emerged as a key battleground State. It has 29 electoral college votes.
Over the past few days, leaders from both the parties have been campaigning intensively in the State including Trump, Hillary and her husband Bill Clinton and the US Vice President Joe Biden.
“You have a chance to move history in a better direction. You have a chance to reject divisive politics and mean- spirited politics,” he said.
“You have a chance to elect a leader who has spent her entire life trying to move this country forward, the first female President, who can be an example for our sons and our daughters. I want young people to understand, those moments don’t come that often,” said the outgoing US President.
Obama told the crowd that he might not be on the ballot this time, but a lot of issues are at stake.
“I’m not on the ballot this time. But fairness is on the ballot. Decency is on the ballot. Justice is on the ballot. All the progress we’ve made is on the ballot. Immigration reform is on the ballot. A higher minimum wage is on the ballot. Equal pay for equal work is on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot,” he said.
“Clinton will move us forward if you give her a chance. And if we win Florida, we will win this election, and it’s in your hands,” Obama said amidst applause.
Obama also slammed Republican presidential nominee Trump and described him as someone who is not fit to be the president of the country.
“Trump is uniquely unqualified to be President. He is temperamentally unfit to be Commander in Chief,” Obama said.
“Here’s somebody who, for decades, has refused to release any tax returns. Now may be it’s because he’s not as rich as he says is, but he has admitted he does not pay federal income taxes for years. So he’s not helping to support our troops or our veterans. He’s not helping to build roads or build schools or help young people finance a college education because he’s not putting anything in,” he added.
He has insulted minorities, and immigrants, and Muslims, and Americans with disabilities, Obama said, adding if you disrespected women before you were in office, you will disrespect women as President.