Top Democratic strategists are advising President Biden to alter his campaign strategy for the 2024 election, focusing more on attacking former President Trump and less on touting his own economic record.
Top Democratic advisors are urging President Biden to alter his campaign strategy ahead of the 2024 election, emphasizing the need to attack former President Trump more aggressively instead of solely highlighting his own policy achievements.
Sources close to the White House who have had private discussions with the Biden campaign expressed concern that the President's economic accomplishments are not resonating with voters. These outside advisors advised the campaign to focus heavily on the economy during Thursday's CNN Presidential Debate.
Biden's Economic Policy Struggles to Resonate, Advisors Urge Shift
They also suggested that Biden should challenge Trump's relationship with corporate America and highlight how his proposed policies could further worsen inflation. A major donor to the Biden campaign expressed frustration, stating, "He wants the credit, but it's not working. He needs to stop."
Biden's campaign appears to have heeded some of this advice. A newly released advertisement ahead of the debate suggests that Trump has done little to help middle-class families. The commercial is part of a $50 million paid media campaign targeting battleground voters.
Biden's Economic Policy Struggles to Resonate, Advisors Urge Shift
According to a recent May ABC News/Ipsos poll, over 80% of respondents believe the economy and inflation are critical factors in determining their vote. Trump held a significant lead over Biden on both concerns. A Fox News poll found that one-third of voters believe the economy is in excellent or good shape, the highest level of economic optimism during Biden's presidency.
While economic sentiment may be improving, it's not all positive. A 56% majority express pessimism about the economy, four in 10 say they are falling behind financially, and two-thirds rate economic conditions as only fair or poor.
Biden's Economic Policy Struggles to Resonate, Advisors Urge Shift
Despite these concerns, a recent CNN poll found Biden leading Trump by five points in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup in the 2024 election. However, head-to-head polls at this stage in the election cycle can be unreliable predictors of the eventual outcome.
The Biden-Trump debate on Thursday is expected to focus heavily on the economy, healthcare, and foreign policy. Both candidates will have the opportunity to lay out their visions for the country and contrast their plans with those of their opponent.
