Progressive Democrat Supports Regeneron Treatment DeSantis Supports

Progressive Democrat Supports Regeneron Treatment DeSantis Supports

Rare moment of bipartisanship in Florida politics

Jim McCool
Jim McCool
|
August 24, 2021

Although it was met stirred up overwhelming controversy, the Governor Ron DeSantis supported COVID-19 Regeneron treatment drug is now being endorsed by Republicans and Democrats alike in Florida.  The COVID-19 treatment continues to rise in popularity has now added Progressive state Rep. Carlos G Smith (D-49) to its list of endorsements.

At first, Regeneron was widely criticized by Democrats nationwide when Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) first pointed to the treatment as successful.  And because DeSantis has been the mainstream media's favorite political target, his endorsement was practically the kiss of death for the medicine that is now prevailing.

Last week, Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried (D-FL) officially got behind Regeneron after Governor DeSantis did, promising Floridians reassuring treatment options when the governor opened the Tampa location  However, the DeSantis communications team reached out to The Floridian clarifying that Fried doesn't have a ruling over this location and essentially said this simply done for political purposes.

Now, Rep. Smith who is arguably one of the most progressive members of the Florida House is behind Regeneron.  Smith took to Twitter last night and quoted Dr. Michael Saag, associate dean for global health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where recently said that Regeneron "works extraordinarily well" adding "They're safe.  They're free... and help keep them alive."

Smith still endorses mass vaccinations but clarified later that this Monoclonal treatment is "our best tool" if you catch COVID-19 within 4-5 days of infection.

With all things COVID-19 still being very much alive in Florida politics, polarization couldn't be any higher.  However, if you're looking for that light at the end of the tunnel, then Regeneron might be that bipartisan issue Florida needs to take a break from Coronavirus and political theatre.

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Jim McCool

Jim McCool

Jim is a graduate of Florida State University where he studied Political Science, Religion and Criminology. He has been a reporter for the Floridian since January of 2021 and will start law school in 2024.

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