President Joe Biden embarked on a weeklong tour of swing states, aiming to demonstrate his enduring political vitality and convince voters of his continued suitability for the presidency. Biden’s itinerary included five key electoral battlegrounds, where he addressed supporters in a variety of venues, from high school gyms to supporter’s front porches. This tour followed his impassioned State of the Union address and marked a stark contrast to his campaign four years ago, which was significantly curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the president’s energetic performance, questions remain about whether this will be enough to boost his approval ratings, which have been worryingly low for a president seeking reelection. LuVerda Martin, a nurse and midwife from the Milwaukee suburbs, expressed that while she had reservations about Biden running again, she was “pleasantly surprised” by his performance and rationale for seeking another term.
While Biden was on the campaign trail, his potential rival, former President Trump, spent his week either in court or giving interviews from his Mar-a-Lago residence. Despite their paths crossing only once in Georgia, the contrast between their activities was clear. However, Biden’s tour, despite covering significant ground, only brought him into contact with a relatively small number of supporters and even fewer undecided voters.
During a visit to a YMCA in Goffstown, New Hampshire, Biden sought to differentiate himself from Trump on the issue of healthcare, a topic his campaign believes can sway voters in his favor. His speech, delivered in an indoor tennis court, was more subdued than his State of the Union address, but still received a warm reception from the predominantly retirement-aged audience.
As the general election looms, Biden’s campaign is gearing up for a different kind of operation in 2024. The president’s visits to campaign field offices were designed to demonstrate his organization’s readiness for a more traditional, door-to-door campaign. Biden’s campaign plans to significantly expand its physical presence in battleground states, opening over 100 new offices and hiring 350 new team members.
However, despite these efforts, the president faces a challenging path ahead. The fight to protect abortion rights, the Israel-Hamas war, and a set of complex policy and political challenges all loom large over the race. Despite these challenges, Biden’s campaign remains optimistic, with plans for the president to visit Nevada and Arizona next week as his general election campaign shifts into high gear.
As the race for the presidency begins in earnest, Biden’s first order of business is to energize Democrats and assuage any concerns about his decision to run again. Only time will tell if his efforts will be enough to secure him another term in office.
Contributor: Priscilla Alvarez, CNN