WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden and his campaign are ramping up their offensive against the presumptive Republican nominee, portraying former President Donald Trump as a criminal and a racist unfit to return to office. This aggressive strategy highlights Trump’s criminal conviction, his liability for sexual assault, and his purportedly erratic behavior since his 2020 election loss.
Biden’s depiction of Trump is one of the most scathing ever by an incumbent president against a challenger. It aims to paint Trump, who left office in disgrace in 2021, as flagrantly unfit for a second term. The strategy leverages Trump’s two impeachments, criminal conviction, and attempts to overturn the last election to underscore the risks of his potential return to power.
Challenges Facing Biden’s Campaign
Despite the fierce rhetoric, Biden’s strategy may also reflect the difficulties his reelection campaign is encountering. Recent fundraising figures show Trump and his team outpacing Biden for the second consecutive month, erasing Biden’s earlier financial lead. Biden’s campaign faces dwindling support across various voter demographics and a narrow path to the necessary 270 electoral votes in November.
For months, Biden’s team has argued that the election stakes would shift in his favor as voters compared him to Trump, remembering the chaos of Trump’s first term and his role in undermining democracy. However, with less than five months until the election, it’s increasingly clear that the race remains a referendum on Biden, particularly concerning economic security, rather than solely on the threat posed by Trump.
Biden’s Intensified Campaign Efforts
Biden’s best opportunity to reset the narrative comes with the upcoming debate against Trump on CNN. His campaign is preparing for this confrontation by intensifying daily attacks on Trump, aiming to appeal to key demographic groups. New polling shows some positive shifts for Biden following Trump’s recent criminal conviction, but the race remains largely stable without a clear frontrunner, a concerning sign for Biden as he seeks a second term.
Biden has been testing his character attacks on Trump at fundraising events, recently emphasizing the threats posed by a second Trump term. At a fundraiser attended by Bill and Hillary Clinton, Biden warned that Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 loss has left him “unhinged,” driving his increasingly erratic behavior.
Strategic Advertising and Community Outreach
This week, Biden’s campaign launched a hard-hitting ad that contrasts his leadership with Trump’s criminal record, part of a $50 million ad buy across various platforms. The ad highlights Trump’s legal troubles and presents Biden as a champion for American families.
Biden’s team is also focusing on key voter demographics showing signs of wavering support. On Juneteenth, the campaign targeted Black voters by condemning Trump’s history of racism and empty pandering. Campaign director of Black media, Jasmine Harris, emphasized that Black voters are ready to end Trump’s candidacy, citing his long history of racial controversies.
The campaign is also targeting Hispanic voters with ads during the Copa América soccer tournament. These ads remind Latino voters of Trump’s chaotic pandemic response and highlight Biden’s achievements in job creation and reopening the country.