WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is charting a path to retain the White House by framing the 2024 race around familiar themes, according to a strategy memo obtained by The Associated Press. Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, emphasizes the popularity of Biden’s message and the strong contrast it presents to the “Make America Great Again” movement of Donald Trump. The memo acknowledges the close nature of the race ahead and emphasizes the campaign’s focus on doing the work needed to win, just as they did in 2020.
The memo reflects Biden’s desire to complete his agenda, but also highlights a campaign that intends to make the race a referendum on stopping Trump. Despite Trump’s legal challenges, the memo notes that the MAGA movement still holds sway, creating a challenging environment for Biden. Polls indicate that a potential rematch between Biden and Trump would be highly competitive.
The memo overlooks concerns among voters about Biden’s age, prompting questions about his effectiveness over four more years. A majority, including many Democrats, believe Biden is too old to be effective. However, the memo touts the administration’s commitment to core democratic values and abortion rights, as well as its efforts to boost the economy and strengthen the middle class, which the campaign believes will resonate with voters.
The memo predicts that next year’s race will present a clear choice for voters, with a rejection of MAGA extremism in favor of the administration’s legislative accomplishments. However, polls suggest that Biden has not received much credit for these initiatives, with his approval rating and handling of the economy receiving significant disapproval.
To combat negative perceptions, the campaign launched a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign targeting battleground states, particularly Hispanic and African American voters. The campaign plans to invest over $1 billion in voter outreach initiatives in 2024. The focus has been on reinforcing Biden’s record, especially on the economy, to remind voters of the progress made under his administration.
Democratic strategists argue that the campaign should emphasize Biden’s achievements and remind voters of the chaos and instability under Trump. They believe that the choice for voters will boil down to stability versus chaos.
The memo also mentions the focus on off-year elections in places like Virginia and efforts to engage volunteers and expand minority voter outreach. The campaign aims to blunt GOP narratives about slipping Democratic support among these groups.
While concerns about Biden’s age exist, the campaign has amassed a significant war chest, with joint fundraising efforts between Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee. The campaign is confident in its financial resources and sees it as an advantage going into the race.
Republican strategists caution against reliving the 2020 campaign, urging the campaign to focus on the future rather than the past. Despite Trump’s previous defeat, some voters still see him as a formidable opponent. However, others believe that if Trump were to run again, it would result in a second term for Biden.
Overall, Biden’s campaign aims to build on its winning coalition by emphasizing Biden’s message and contrasting it with Trump’s MAGA movement. The success of this strategy remains to be seen as the race ramps up in the coming months.
Associated Press writers Linley Sanders in Washington and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.
