President Joe Biden is reemerging on the campaign trail in a new political phase as he closes out his time in the White House and works to ensure Vice President Kamala Harris succeeds him. The two will kick off the final sprint to the election together on Labor Day, focusing on wooing working-class voters in Pittsburgh, a symbolic city for Biden. Biden’s return to the campaign trail comes as he transitions from candidate to surrogate mode after abandoning his bid for a second term, with plans to focus on his legacy and popular agenda items in key battleground states.
Biden will be hitting the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where he narrowly beat former President Donald Trump in 2020. He will have a busy schedule of campaign and official events to promote his agenda and help boost Harris’ candidacy, especially in Pennsylvania where his political capital can make a difference in her success. The coordination between the West Wing, the vice president’s office, and the campaign is focused on utilizing Biden where he can be most helpful, with plans to determine how often he will be deployed and whether he will campaign with Harris.
It will be important for Democrats to navigate the fine line between boosting Harris’ candidacy and defending Biden’s policies from Republican attacks. Harris has focused on an economic pitch around affordability issues while defending Biden’s economic record. The president is also focused on key domestic and foreign policy goals before leaving office, including addressing the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the war in Ukraine. Biden is expected to make trips abroad in his final months in office and will be an asset for Harris on the world stage.
Biden’s decision to step aside has transitioned him from principal to surrogate, serving as a powerful ally for Harris on the campaign trail. Despite being forced out of the 2024 race, Biden’s approval ratings have increased, making him a popular surrogate among key demographics critical in the upcoming election. He will be a validator for Harris with union workers and older voters, two important voter blocs in critical states. Biden’s focus on Pennsylvania highlights the state’s importance in the election and his efforts to campaign for Harris in areas where he was successful in 2020.
Biden’s return to Pittsburgh symbolizes his long political career that has spanned over five decades. The city has played a significant role in his campaign journeys, from being urged to run for president in 2015 to ending his White House run in 2020. Now, Biden will use Pittsburgh as a starting point for his new phase in politics, focusing on boosting Harris and ensuring a successful transition of power. As he supports Harris on the campaign trail and on the world stage, Biden aims to leave a lasting legacy in his final months in office.
