In the wake of Donald Trump's debate meltdown last night, a guy whose poll numbers have rarely been higher is coming to town: Barack Obama, who's as popular now as conservative figurehead Ronald Reagan was just before he left office in 1988, is headed to South Florida to campaign for Hillary today.
So Obama might face the toughest likability test of his entire presidency: Can he screw up Miami highway traffic all day and still remain in South Florida's good graces?
Barry O will stump for his former secretary of state. Obama was supposed to speak in Miami two weeks ago, but the impending maelstrom of Hurricane Matthew put the temporary kibosh on that visit.
Today he'll host a rally for Hillary Clinton at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens from 1 to 4 p.m., according to the Clinton campaign's website. The Miami Herald reports that Obama will also give a talk on the Affordable Care Act at Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus at 2 p.m. in downtown Miami.
Given the fact that Obama's motorcade will need to head from Miami Gardens all the way across the county, Miami Beach Police are already warning people to prepare for gridlock. Beach PD says I-95 and areas north of NE 41st Street will likely be jammed.
#Traffic Advisory: Expect delays tmrw (10/20) from 3p-8p along i195 & north of 41st Street. Please use the Venetian and MacArthur Causeway.
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) October 19, 2016
The department warns that people trying to dodge the gridlock should use the Venetian or MacArthur Causeway instead.
All things considered, expect Obama to cruise through both speeches with relative ease today. Obama is flying high, no presidential candidate has ever come back from the polling deficit Trump faces right now, and Democrats are feeling confident about their chance to retain the White House and take back the Senate.
Oh, and definitely expect some jokes from Obama about the Donald's latest conspiracy theories that will allow Trump to refuse to concede after Election Day.