President Joe Biden is back on the campaign trail, making personal connections at local eateries and take-out counters across the nation. This return to retail politics is a strategic move to counteract persistent disapproval ratings and concerns about his age and record.
The strategy is simple: the more people who meet and connect with Biden in person, the more likely they are to support his bid for another term. This is not a new tactic, but one that has been employed by politicians for decades. However, Biden’s allies believe that this is where he shines, demonstrating his ability to connect with people and understand their problems.
As 2024 begins, Biden’s team is exploring new ways to put the president among the people. Until recently, the president had yet to hold a public event at the White House this year, instead spending more time in battleground states. His campaign advisers believe there is no substitute for traditional, retail politics.
“We know the president’s secret weapon is connecting with people, and we are spending this time right now trying new ways to reach and connect Americans to the president’s agenda,” said Rob Flaherty, Biden’s deputy campaign manager.
These brief encounters with potential voters are particularly important, say advisers, who believe personal interactions can have a deeper impact than campaign speeches or news articles. This kind of relational organizing is expected to be a significant part of Biden’s reelection effort.
After delivering a speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, about expanding high-speed internet to rural communities, Biden stopped by a local fast-food chain for a frozen treat. He then visited a family for a “kitchen table conversation” about their lives and experiences. These interactions are expected to feature in future campaign materials.
In Pennsylvania, Biden spent over an hour visiting small businesses to highlight his administration’s record in supporting new ventures. The White House quickly turned material from the visit into content for the president’s social media accounts and promoted local news coverage of the stop.
Despite the economy’s steady improvement, Biden acknowledged that his efforts so far haven’t done enough to connect with voters. “What we haven’t done is letting them know exactly who got it changed,” he said.
Senior advisers admit that the White House’s focus on the war that broke out in Israel in October 2023 prevented more political travel and engagements. However, as the conflict transitions into a lower-intensity stage, both West Wing advisers and campaign officials are hopeful that Biden will have a heavier campaign schedule in the coming months.
Biden’s team say he derives energy from meeting “real” people in “real” settings, providing a mental boost after hours spent meeting advisers in the Oval Office or Situation Room. The reelection operation would much prefer that Biden be out and about talking about, for example, lowering costs for consumers, than the two wars that broke out under his watch in Israel and Ukraine.