As the 2024 presidential campaign year unfolds, President Joe Biden’s team is cautiously escalating their offensive against Donald Trump. The team is wary of voters becoming desensitized to the former president’s increasingly extreme rhetoric and promises about his potential return to power.
Younger aides on Biden’s reelection campaign have been humorously contemplating when to draw a direct comparison between Trump and Adolf Hitler, as Trump’s speeches and actions become increasingly extreme. Until now, the Biden team has been more subtle in their attacks, accusing Trump of merely echoing Hitler’s rhetoric.
Despite Biden’s approval ratings dipping below 40%, his campaign team sees the upcoming weeks of the Republican primary campaigns as an opportunity to shape the narrative of the race. They aim to highlight Trump’s extremism and persuade influencers and media to view the race from their perspective.
As the State of the Union address approaches, Biden’s campaign aides are working to highlight the president’s accomplishments and future plans. These include protecting Obamacare, expanding efforts to relieve student debt and housing costs, and implementing tax measures such as a 25% minimum tax for billionaires and a fourfold increase in the stock buyback tax.
However, many Democrats are eager for Biden to make a stronger case for his second term. They are struggling to identify his second-term agenda and are resorting to promoting the party’s past achievements. Some are using the slogan “finish the job,” which Biden himself has largely abandoned.
Rep. Steven Horsford, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and an early Biden supporter in the 2020 race, believes that the anti-Trump argument needs to feel immediate and not theoretical. However, he also believes that this alone will not be sufficient. Horsford has been urging the White House and reelection campaign leaders to move away from using “Bidenomics,” arguing that the phrase is too focused on the president rather than appealing to voters.
Despite some operational bottlenecks, Biden’s team insists that they have been developing interlocking plans for months. They are dismissing concerns from top donors and advocates who feel that the campaign lacks a clear strategy beyond responding to Trump.
If Trump becomes the Republican nominee, Biden’s team plans to highlight aspects of his record that they believe voters find repugnant, as well as promises he failed to deliver on while in office. If another Republican candidate emerges, they will argue that this candidate is indistinguishable from Trump in their allegiance to MAGA Republican extremism.
As the 2024 campaign year begins, Biden will commemorate the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol in Philadelphia. Vice President Kamala Harris will kick off a national tour discussing abortion rights in Wisconsin on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, a topic that Democrats believe will be a defining theme of the campaign.
While Biden’s team expects to spend some time contrasting the characters of the candidates, they say their main focus will be on Trump’s record as president and what he is promising to do if elected again. They believe they have ample opportunities for direct comparisons with Biden’s record of accomplishing things that Trump said he would do, including passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill, cutting drug prices, and creating jobs.
Looking ahead to 2024, Biden’s team is eager to spark a national debate on tax fairness. They also plan to continue pushing for action on issues such as tackling the fentanyl crisis, increasing assistance for veterans, addressing mental health, expanding data privacy, and searching for a cure for cancer.
Despite the challenges ahead, Biden’s team remains optimistic. They are determined to show that Biden is the president for all Americans and that he will continue to do everything in his power to unite the country and restore its soul.