With the Iowa caucuses just 10 days away, the political landscape is heating up. President Joe Biden is set to land in Pennsylvania this Friday, aiming to alert Americans about the potential dangers of a second Trump presidency. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is intensifying his pre-caucus campaign with two rallies in northern Iowa.
Biden’s first significant venture into the 2024 election campaign was initially planned for Saturday, marking the third anniversary of the January 6, 2021, US Capitol insurrection. However, due to weather concerns, his team decided to advance the event. The president’s speech, to be delivered near the historic Valley Forge, is anticipated to serve as a stern warning against empowering Trump, whom Biden’s campaign perceives as the most probable GOP nominee and a significant threat to US democracy.
The president’s speech will draw heavily on the symbolism of George Washington and his troops’ resilience during their winter at Valley Forge. Biden will highlight the sacrifices made to build the nation and frame the 2024 presidential election as a “sacred cause” to preserve democracy and freedom. He will also contrast Washington’s decision to relinquish power after two terms with Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign activities in Iowa are more traditional. He is working to consolidate his support in the Hawkeye State ahead of the January 15 caucuses. Despite leading the GOP field by a considerable margin, his campaign is determined to avoid a repeat of 2016, when a weak ground game allowed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to exceed expectations and win the state.
Both Biden and Trump are charting unique paths towards a potential rematch in November. Biden has mostly traveled in his official capacity, promoting a robust economy and investments linked to his signature spending bills. On the other hand, Trump has been largely absent from the Republican primary trail, behaving like an incumbent as he tries to assert his dominance over struggling challengers.
Despite their efforts, both candidates face broad disapproval among American voters, who have repeatedly expressed their dread of a rematch of the last campaign. However, operatives from both parties are confident that these numbers will balance out as the election draws closer and the stakes become clearer.
Biden’s campaign believes that the January 6 insurrection continues to resonate with voters. To this end, they have released a 60-second television ad marking three years since the insurrection at the US Capitol. The ad will air in key markets in battleground states that will be crucial to Biden’s electoral map in November.
As the 2024 election draws closer, the political landscape is set for a heated showdown between Biden and Trump. With both candidates gearing up for their campaigns, the coming months promise to be a critical period in American politics.
Contributions to this story were made by CNN’s Betsy Klein and Kristen Holmes.