(New York) In normal times, Joe Biden would attend campaign meetings in Atlanta, Milwaukee, Las Vegas and Detroit, among other major cities in the states where the most important battles are taking place in the run-up to the midterm elections.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
However, Thursday afternoon, the Democratic president found himself in Syracuse, a medium-sized city located in northern New York State, a blue state par excellence. And, from this Friday in Atlanta, Georgia, it is rather Barack Obama, his ex-boss, who will increase his trips to the cities and states where the majority in the American Senate and some governorships will be played.
Joe Biden’s itinerary speaks volumes about the predicament of Democrats as the November ballot approaches. It reflects the unpopularity of the occupant of the White House, whose presence has become undesirable in certain regions of his country. And it demonstrates the vulnerability of Democrats in some of their strongholds, including New York State, where the grumbling over inflation is the same as anywhere else in the United States.
White House strategists certainly had good reason to place Syracuse on Joe Biden’s increasingly restricted itinerary. Earlier this month, US semiconductor maker Micron announced plans to invest up to $100 billion over 20 years to build four factories in the region. Its leaders have specified that this project, likely to create 50,000 jobs, would not have been possible without the CHIPS law signed into law by Joe Biden last summer to help the semiconductor industry compete with the Chinese.
The Democratic president therefore used Micron as an example of the economic benefits that communities like Syracuse can expect if Democrats maintain a majority in both houses of the US Congress.
And he contrasted that example with the Republicans’ platform, which he said includes eliminating a tax credit to reduce energy costs, a cap to limit the price of insulin and a minimum corporate tax.
“That’s the plan,” he said, flanked by the two Democratic senators from New York, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Democratic governor of New York, Kathy Hochul. “I would say it’s a reckless and irresponsible plan that will make inflation worse if they go through with it. And then they will continue by attacking the public pension system, ”he added.
Too late ?
Joe Biden’s trip to Syracuse comes as Democrats realize the topic of abortion may not be enough to stem a red tide on Nov. 8. This observation does not only apply to traditional pivot states, but also to certain blue states, including New York, where the presence of Joe Biden can still help according to Democratic strategists.
But doesn’t the president’s new speech come too late?
“No, it’s not too late for people who are just starting to pay attention to elections or those who aren’t hard-core supporters,” replies Christopher Faricy, a political scientist at Syracuse University.
Micron’s announcement was big news, both locally and nationally. This is something that people are excited about and for which Democrats in New York and Washington can take credit.
Christopher Faricy, political scientist at Syracuse University
Governor Kathy Hochul obviously hopes to take advantage of Joe Biden’s visit to Syracuse. In the home stretch of the campaign, she saw her lead shrink dangerously against her Republican rival, Lee Zeldin, who represents a constituency from Long Island to Washington. The latter not only hammers the theme of the economy, but also that of crime, as do several other Republican candidates from one end of the United States to the other.
PHOTO MARY ALTAFFER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lee Zeldin and Kathy Hochul during the Monday Night Debate
On Monday evening, the two candidates faced off in the campaign’s only televised debate. When Kathy Hochul criticized her rival for not offering anything to improve gun control, he replied: “Kathy Hochul thinks that the only crimes that are committed are these crimes with guns, and you have people who are afraid of being pushed in front of oncoming subway cars. They are stabbed, beaten to death in the street with hammers. […] We should talk about these crimes, but Kathy Hochul prefers to brag about a job well done. »
Red Offensive
Republicans are also on the offensive in New York state constituencies where almost no one would have given them a chance a few weeks ago. This is particularly the case of a constituency located in the northern suburbs of New York and defended by Sean Patrick Maloney, who is also chairman of the electoral committee of the Democrats of the House of Representatives.
“The Democrats could lose control of the House only with a few seats swinging to the Republican camp in New York State,” comments Professor Faricy.
In constituencies in Oregon and Rhode Island, where Joe Biden easily beat Donald Trump in 2020, Democratic representatives must also fight for their survival.
Joe Biden has already traveled to Oregon to try to avoid the worst. On November 5, he will join Barack Obama in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, two cities in Pennsylvania, his native state, where he is still welcome.