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Joe Biden is coupling new attacks on Republican policies with a massive ad blitz more than a year before the election day. The US president aims to improve dangerously low polling numbers about his leadership and the state of the economy.
Biden will deliver a major speech on the economy in Maryland, returning to his domestic agenda after a five-day trip. The speech, according to Jared Bernstein, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, will highlight the contrast between “Bidenomics” and the congressional Republicans’ “trickle-down” policies.
To overcome the challenges in conveying his message, Biden’s campaign is investing $25 million in fresh advertising, targeting eight battleground states. This ad campaign will be the largest ever for a re-election campaign at this stage.
The ads will be aired during National Football League games, Major League Baseball’s World Series, and on digital platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. Some of the ads will also be targeted to specific Hispanic and African-American communities.
The early advertising bombardment is viewed by Republicans as a sign of Biden’s unpopularity. According to a recent CNN poll, only 39% of respondents approve of Biden’s job performance, and 58% believe his policies have worsened the economy.
Biden’s opponent, former President Donald Trump, is also campaigning aggressively. However, Biden has the advantage of having his ads on the air while Trump’s campaign is currently inactive.
The Biden campaign ads focus on an optimistic message about America’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. They highlight record low unemployment rates and increased manufacturing jobs, achieved through trillions of dollars worth of aid and tax breaks for cleantech and semiconductor projects.
However, Biden’s message faces skepticism in the market. The challenge is to instill hope that the Federal Reserve has achieved a soft landing, despite months of raising interest rates to combat inflation.
Inflation has fallen from its high in June 2022, but consumer prices still rose 3.7% year on year in August. Unemployment remains low but increased from 3.4% to 3.8% recently.
In addition to the speech, Biden’s team is targeting specific plans proposed by Trump’s advisers, such as corporate tax rate cuts and new tariffs on imports. Republicans are also launching counterattacks, with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell criticizing Biden’s policies and their impact on working Americans.