Biden Unleashes Familiar Midterm Strategy in Preparation for 2024 Presidential Race

President Biden has released his first major campaign ad for the 2024 election, emphasizing the preservation of American democracy as the central issue of his presidency. The 60-second spot, accompanied by piano chords, highlights the importance of voting and warns of a dangerous extremist movement that threatens the country’s democratic values. The ad, part of a $500,000 ad blitz, will be aired on local evening news broadcasts in key states.

This messaging echoes Biden’s approach during the 2022 midterms, where he repeatedly emphasized the threat posed by former President Donald Trump and his followers who denied the legitimacy of the election. Despite criticism from some within his own party, Biden’s advisors believed that their strategy was effective when the anticipated Republican “red wave” failed to materialize.

Biden is now doubling down on this strategy, with his first campaign speech of 2024 scheduled for Friday at Valley Forge near Philadelphia. The speech, held on the eve of the third anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, aims to position the upcoming election as another crucial turning point for American democracy.

However, this strategy may invite further scrutiny as Biden enters an election year with low polling numbers for a first-term President. Some argue that with Trump facing multiple criminal trials, including those related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, the threat to democracy is already a top concern for many voters.

While Biden’s campaign acknowledges the importance of addressing economic issues, it plans to primarily frame the campaign as a fight to defend democracy and individual freedoms. The campaign highlights the Republican party’s stance on issues such as women’s reproductive rights, history education, and extremism that encourages political violence. A senior Biden campaign official states that the choice in this election is between the President and Vice President, who aim to preserve and protect these freedoms, and the Republicans who have already taken them away.

Biden’s message resonates with an electorate increasingly worried about political divisions turning violent. A December poll by Navigator Research found that 83% of Americans, including Democrats, independents, and Republicans, expressed concerns about political violence. Another poll by Quinnipiac University revealed that preserving democracy ranked as the second most important issue for voters, following the economy.

In addition to emphasizing the threats posed by Trump and right-wing extremism, Biden will also highlight his efforts to transform the economy and support the middle class. This includes discussing job creation, easing inflation, increasing consumer confidence, and the positive impact of infrastructure investments.

Following his speech, Biden will campaign in South Carolina, where Black voter turnout secured his victory in the 2020 Democratic primary. He plans to visit the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the site of a 2015 shooting by a white supremacist that claimed the lives of nine Black parishioners. Biden has cited Trump’s response to the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 as a major motivation for his decision to run for President.

To effectively appeal to voters, Biden must strike a balance between discussing the dangers of Trump and sounding like he is scolding the electorate. It is crucial for him to emphasize that a strong economy cannot coexist with the chaos brought by Trump, and instead, a fair economy where everyone has an opportunity is attainable.