After his State of the Union speech, Biden goes on the campaign trail

(Philadelphia) Buoyed by the mostly positive reception given to his State of the Union speech, Joe Biden took his combative message against the “dangerous” Donald Trump with him on the path to the presidential campaign on Friday.

The Democratic president, who is seeking a second term in November, has several key states on his agenda. As his return match with his Republican predecessor gets underway, he traveled to Pennsylvania on Friday, before a trip to Georgia on Saturday.

Donald Trump and his supporters “are seeking to deprive us of our freedoms and it is not an exaggeration” to say it, Joe Biden fumed during his meeting in Philadelphia. “Well, you know what? We won’t let him! “.

“Donald Trump is dangerous for women, families and our country, and we cannot let him win the November elections,” insisted the 81-year-old Democrat.

Dozens of demonstrators had gathered outside the room to protest against Joe Biden’s support for Israel, which has been waging a devastating war in Gaza since the attacks on its soil by Palestinian Hamas on October 7.

On Thursday evening, Mr. Biden launched one of the fiercest State of the Union speeches ever delivered in the chamber of Congress, transforming this solemn high mass into an energetic campaign rally.

He has repeatedly attacked Donald Trump, accusing him of “submitting” to Russian President Vladimir Putin and representing a threat to American democracy. He also attacked the elected representatives of the Republican Party, judging that they were kowtowing to the business magnate.

“Decisive voters”

The goal of this speech lasting more than an hour was also to allay concerns surrounding Joe Biden’s age.

Mr. Trump, 77, described his opponent on Friday as “very sick” and assured that his speech had been “exhausted around the world”, without providing an example.

The Republican had said he was ready to debate with Mr. Biden, but the latter told the press on Friday that it “depends on his behavior.”

As donor money pours in, Mr. Biden will campaign in March in each of the key states at the heart of his 2020 victory against Mr. Trump, according to his team, to try to send his message to the voters.

As for Vice-President Kamala Harris, she is traveling to Arizona and Nevada with Hispanic voters in her sights, according to the same source.

“Joe Biden is on a mission to connect with voters where they are and bridge our divides,” said campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon.

“While Donald Trump, saddled with a losing agenda and a cash-strapped structure, is actively alienating decisive voters,” she added.

Assailed by business, Mr. Trump alternates between campaign meetings and court appearances – he has already spent nine of his days in a courtroom since the start of the year, according to an AFP count.

The Republican was notably ordered to pay nearly $355 million in fines for financial fraud.

“Hyper-partisan”

In Pennsylvania, many working-class voters abandoned Democrats for Donald Trump in 2016, before Joe Biden rallied them to his cause in 2020.

Polls place the Democratic president behind his Republican rival this time. He hopes his State of the Union address will have given him a national platform to millions of voters.

Without ever mentioning Donald Trump by name, but referring to his rival 13 times as “my predecessor,” Mr. Biden launched a frontal attack on Republicans on issues ranging from abortion rights to economy, warning that freedom and democracy were in danger.

Democrats cheered him, chanting “Four more years” while Republicans frequently interrupted or booed him, particularly on immigration.

The Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, seated behind Mr. Biden as is tradition, often shook his head in disapproval during the speech.

“It was an aggressive, hyper-partisan speech,” he said.

Next week, Joe Biden will visit New Hampshire on Monday, Wisconsin on Wednesday and Michigan on Thursday.