In a campaign event at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, President Joe Biden declared that the Republican-led state of Florida could potentially be "in play" for the 2024 election, drawing both criticism and mockery from his opponents. The Biden campaign pointed to the state's upcoming abortion laws as evidence that the president could win Florida in November.

One of the key factors cited by the Biden campaign is a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which is set to take effect on May 1. However, there is potential for voters to rescind the ban if they approve an amendment on the November ballot. The campaign sees this issue as an opportunity to rally support and secure a victory in the critical swing state.

Despite the optimism from the Biden campaign, various polls indicate that former President Donald Trump holds a lead over Biden in Florida, according to FiveThirtyEight's polling average. The outcome of the 2016 and 2020 elections, where Trump won the state with a 3-point margin, further reinforces the uphill battle Biden will face in winning over Florida voters.

The president's remarks about Florida being "in play" garnered criticism and mockery online, especially from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' team. Bryan Griffin, DeSantis' communications director, taunted the Biden campaign over what appeared to be a small showing of supporters at the event. Jeremey Redfern, DeSantis' press secretary, highlighted the ongoing border issues and challenged Biden's priorities.

The Trump campaign's national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, reinforced the notion that Florida is "Trump Country" and emphasized Trump's previous victories in the state. Governor DeSantis also took the opportunity to criticize Biden's border policies and condemned his support for the abortion amendment on the Florida ballot, citing concerns about parental consent and deceptive messaging.

Social media was not forgiving either, as many online users lambasted Biden for his statement about Florida's potential swing status. However, the Biden campaign defended its strategy, citing former President Barack Obama's win in the state during the 2012 election, which coincided with an abortion referendum on the ballot.

While the Biden campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment, the president's claim about Florida being "in play" reflects the campaign's effort to invest in multiple paths to victory, including key swing states like Florida. However, Governor DeSantis remains confident in his party's strong foothold in the state, pointing to a significant voter registration shift that favors Republicans by over 900,000 voters.

As the 2024 election looms, the battle for Florida's crucial electoral votes is expected to intensify. Biden's claim that Florida could be in play has sparked criticism and mockery, but only time will tell if the president's campaign can overcome the odds and secure victory in this important battleground state.