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Asset or liability? Biden’s momentum hasn’t led to new invitations on midterm campaign trail
During a trip to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. last week, President Joe Biden lavished praise on Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman, calling him “a hell of a guy” and “a powerful voice for working people.”
“He’s going to make a great United States senator,” Biden said.
But Fetterman, the state’s lieutenant governor, was not in attendance. The campaign said a pre-scheduled fundraiser forced Fetterman to miss the White House event on public safety.
Biden is a full-contact campaigner, known for hugging supporters, telling stories about life in Scranton, Pa., and giving fiery speeches about the little guy. But even as his once-floundering approval ratings improve, it’s unclear how often the president will be asked to join Democratic candidates in key states and congressional districts.
How many want his gaffes and ability to denigrate voters at their rallies? Him hugging and kissing little girls? Slurring his words, getting angry, losing track of what he’s saying? And, while his approval number has come up a bit, he’s still way underwater. Democrats are just avoiding the notion of him running in 2024, and the Compliant Media is refusing to ask politicians to answer the question on him running in 2024. Notice most pollsters are avoiding question on the economy and Biden’s handling of it
“If this were a couple of months ago, I think most Democratic candidates in a lot of these swing states would have been loath to be seen with him,” said David Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron. “Now, he’s not necessarily a huge asset for a lot of these campaigns, but he’s also not a drag on the ticket.”
Less than 70 days before the midterms, Biden is hitting the road with his first traveling blitz of the campaign season. This week, his schedule will collide with the itineraries of three Democratic Senate candidates in crucial races, testing whether they view him as a liability or strength to their campaigns.
Will Fetterman and Wisconsin Democratic Senate nominee Mandela Barnes be available? U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, Ohio’s Democratic Senate nominee, says he will be at an event at an Intel semiconductor manufacturing plant where Biden will be, but, time will tell. But, he’s also not asking Biden to campaign for him.
Still waiting for any reporter to ask Biden why he’s not traveling in an EV.
Read: Bummer: Democrats Seem To Still Be Avoiding Biden On The Campaign Trail »