President Joe Biden wasted no time after his State of the Union address and embarked on a travel blitz on Friday. He made his way to the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania to reinforce the key points he emphasized during his memorable speech the day before.
In a strongly Democratic county, the president wasted no time in lambasting former President Donald Trump during his speech. Biden took aim at Trump’s track record on reproductive rights, calling it into question. He also shared the story of a family affected by Alabama’s controversial state Supreme Court ruling that classified embryos as children, leading to a halt in in vitro fertilization services.
“It happened because of one reason: Donald Trump,” Biden exclaimed on Friday, referring to the paused IVF plans of a family. “He was determined to overturn Roe v. Wade since he came into office. In fact, he has repeatedly boasted about it.”
The president then shifted his focus to several pressing matters, namely addressing the issue of rising inflation, reducing the prices of prescription drugs, and his unwavering call to prohibit assault weapons.
“Many corporations are guilty of raising prices and boosting profits, leaving consumers to pay more for less,” declared Biden. He emphasized the need to take action against companies involved in price gouging and deceptive pricing.
Biden also highlighted the difference between his approach to governance and that of Trump.
Joe Biden expressed his belief in embracing the future during his lifetime. He sincerely emphasized the importance of freedom, democracy, and a future that adheres to the core values that have shaped America. Biden reiterated the significance of honesty, decency, fairness, and equality as foundational principles.
According to Biden, Donald Trump has a different perspective on the story. In Biden’s words, Trump views it as a tale of resentment, revenge, and retribution.
The audience consisted of individuals who have volunteered or worked for the Democratic Party, the Biden campaign, or a similar organization. The enthusiastic crowd would occasionally erupt into chants of “four more years.”
“We need to approach this moment with the understanding that our rights are in jeopardy, because they truly are,” emphasized the first lady. “We must also recognize that our democracy is hanging in the balance, because it absolutely is.”
Friday’s speech, apart from the State of the Union, marked the occasion when Biden garnered the biggest audience since his speech in January that focused on abortion rights. During that speech, which was interrupted multiple times by anti-war protesters expressing their discontent with Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The president’s speech marks the beginning of a “month of action” according to the campaign’s plans, with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embarking on visits to every battleground state.
Biden has scheduled visits to Georgia on Saturday, New Hampshire on Monday, Wisconsin on Wednesday, and Michigan on Thursday, as reported by the campaign. In the meantime, Harris made a trip to Arizona on Friday and is set to visit Nevada on Saturday, with a particular focus on mobilizing Latino voters.
In the 2020 election, Biden successfully turned Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona into Democratic states.
According to the White House, the president’s Cabinet and senior administration officials are embarking on a series of trips to various states this month. With over two dozen visits planned, states such as Texas, Ohio, Florida, and New York are set to receive high-profile visits from government officials.
The campaign made an announcement on Friday, revealing their plans to establish 100 offices and recruit a minimum of 350 new staff members in battleground states. Additionally, they are launching a six-week, $30 million ad buy that will include deliberate and significant investments in Hispanic, African American, and AANHPI outlets and radio. Referred to as “Team Biden-Harris,” the campaign uses this term as a convenient way to refer to itself and its associated organizations, including the Democratic National Committee.
According to AdImpact, the $30 million ad buy falls within the same range as the ad spending of some super PACs in this campaign cycle. Future Forward, a pro-Biden super PAC, has spent approximately $20.8 million, while MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, has spent $39.5 million. Additionally, Never Back Down, a pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC, has spent about $40.2 million, and SFA Fund, a pro-Nikki Haley super PAC, has spent $64.4 million.
