WASHINGTON — Political analysts are calling the State of the Union speech fiery and raucous.
Virginia 3rd District Congressman Democrat Bobby Scott believes President Joe Biden did exactly what he needed to do.
In a day-after Zoom call, Scott highlighted several points he believes are winning issues for Democrats and the American people.
"As the president unscored last night, Democrats will never stop fighting to protect women's freedom which includes access to full reproductive healthcare," Scott said.
Scott joined the president in vowing to protect the Affordable Care Act, pushing back on fruitless attempts by Republicans to repeal it.
"That is high on their list of priorities and we always have to look after it. The idea that some states haven't expanded Medicaid is just reprehensible."
Scott praised the president's call to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law and for an immediate and temporary ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas war.
But 2nd District Congresswoman Republican Jen Kiggans said what she heard was a political campaign speech.
"There was a lot of talk about the person he's running against in November. It's frustrating that we were there just listening to a campaign speech," Kiggans said.
With a district dominated by military personnel, Kiggans is disappointed the president didn't acknowledge the work of the military and law enforcement.
While President Biden urged Congress to pass the bipartisan border bill, Kiggans wanted to hear more.
"The rise in fentanyl trafficking, the rise in human trafficking, the rise in violent crime that's being committed by illegal immigrants. Those things were not talked about enough last night," she said.