GOP Senator Rick Scott blasts Biden as ‘slow to react’ to Americans’ struggles as new poll shows a majority of Americans want Republicans to handle the economy and inflation

  • A majority of US voters also don't believe Biden cares about the issues they are facing, the new survey from CBS News/YouGov suggests
  • Nearly seven in 10 Americans think the economy is in bad shape, the poll finds
  • A majority also said they were 'pessimistic' about the stock market, the cost of goods and services, keeping their personal freedoms and plans for retirement 
  • Scott, who is in charge of the Senate's elections and campaign arm, shared a prediction that the 'election this fall is going to be about inflation'
  • He urged GOP candidates to 'explain the problem that the Biden administration has' and 'tell people what we're going to do to bring down inflation'
  • Scott authored an 11-point economic proposal that was so controversial even Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell distanced himself from it 

Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott criticized President Joe Biden on Sunday for being 'slow to react' to multiple crises including a southern border crisis, sky-high inflation and a baby formula shortage that's already sent multiple children to the hospital.

It comes as a new poll suggests Americans are still wary with Democrats' handling of the economy - while nearly seven in 10 voters think the US financial system is in dire straits. 

'I think those numbers are consistent with what we've seen, that inflation is still the number one issue in the country and the president is slow to react, whether it's the border, whether it's inflation, whether it's gas prices, even Ukraine,' Scott told CBS News Face The Nation host Margaret Brennan.

The senator predicted consumer prices - which rose 8.5 percent in April, according to the most recently available data - would take center stage in November's midterm elections that will decide which party controls Congress for the latter half of Biden's term.

'I think the election this fall is going to be about inflation. It's going to be about the effectiveness of the Biden administration,' said Scott, who is in charge of Senate Republicans' campaign arm.

He added: 'And I think it bodes well for Republicans.'

If his prediction is true, then Republicans would have a lot to look forward to. Among a list of issues facing the country, respondents to the newest CBS News/YouGov poll said they trust Republicans more than Democrats on the economy and inflation.

Republican Florida Senator Rick Scott predicted 'the election this fall is going to be about inflation'

Republican Florida Senator Rick Scott predicted 'the election this fall is going to be about inflation'

The margins, however, are slim. Both issues are split 51 percent in favor of Republicans, with 49 percent of people backing Democrats' handling of the fiscal matters.

Democrats come out on top in matters including immigration, gun policy and education.

But overall, 69 percent of Americans said the economy is either very or fairly bad - compared to just 26 percent who think it's in good shape.

A majority also said they were 'pessimistic' about the stock market, the cost of goods and services, keeping their personal freedoms and plans for retirement.

Asked how Republicans can increase their lead over Democrats on financial issues, Scott said: 'I think it's important that, you know, we talk about what we're going to do. And we- you know, we explain the problem that the Biden administration has.'

'But also, we tell people what we're going to do to bring down inflation. We're going to balance the budget. We're going to start watching the dollars very closely. We're going to watch our spending,' Scott said.

Earlier this year the senator unveiled an 11-point proposal for the economy that included a mandatory federal minimum income tax, which would largely affect low-earning families. 

The plan was so controversial that even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell distanced himself from it, and Biden panned it as 'extreme, as most MAGA things are.'  

Scott said Sunday, 'If you go and look at the races around the country, Biden's numbers are really, really bad. And he's the face of the Democrat Party right now.'

Biden's overall job approval in the latest poll is trailing 12 points behind his disapproval rating, with a margin of 44 percent to 56. 

And in a blow to his relatable, empathetic image, more than 50 percent of respondents said Biden's doesn't think much or at all about their needs.

A plurality of voters, 34 percent, said 'not at all' when asked how much the president cares. Forty-four percent believe Biden cares 'somewhat' or 'a lot' for the people he leads.

A 65-percent majority also agree with Scott that Biden is 'slow to react' to national issues. 

Given a list of adjectives to describe the president, more than half of responding voters said he was 'distracted' and 'incompetent.'

More than half also said Biden is not unifying or focused. 

Sunday's poll shows Americans are wary of both major parties in Congress - given a list of words and asked which most closely resemble each side of the aisle, a majority of voters complained the Democratic Party is 'weak' while painting the GOP as 'extreme.'

Nearly half of Republican voters also said hearing their leaders condemn white nationalism is 'not very important' or not important at all - less than a quarter said it was 'very important.'

Conversely, 75 percent of Democrats said it was 'very important' for leaders to call out white extremism. 

The statistic is particularly stark while the city of Buffalo, New York is still reeling from last weekend's mass shooting where a white gunman purposefully targeted a predominantly black supermarket and killed 10 people.

Asked about the partisan gap, Scott swiftly said that 'we ought to all condemn any hatred.'

'We ought to condemn any white supremacy. We've got to figure out how to come together,' the senator said.

He then took aim at 'racial politics' in general.

'We ought to judge people by their character, not, you know, not their skin color. So, we've got to figure out how to bring people together,' Scott said. 

However the Florida Republican was hesitant to say he would advise GOP candidates running for Senate to condemn white nationalism.

'Well, I tell people what I believe. And, you know, every- every Senate candidate on both sides is going to decide what is important to them, and what is important to the citizens of their state,' Scott explained.

The host pressed, 'So, the answer is yes?'

'Oh, if they asked me, I would say be clear. Be clear. I mean, we do not believe - none of us - I don't think any American should believe in white supremacy or hatred of any kind,' Scott said.

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