As the summer kicks off, President Joe Biden is ramping up his reelection campaign.
After a rally with union workers in Philadelphia over the weekend, the first major event of his 2024 campaign, the president is spending a few days in California headlining big-ticket fundraisers.
Before a supportive crowd of union workers in Philadelphia on Saturday, Biden touted his economic agenda while celebrating the endorsements of major labor unions.
“When Republicans come after what I’ve done when they come back, try to get rid of all these clean energy investments and try to stop the plan on infrastructure — and guess what? They’re coming for your jobs,” Biden told the crowd.
“I’m looking forward to this campaign, and I want you to know why,” said Biden. “We got a story to tell, got a record to run on. Most importantly, we’re not only changing this country, we’re transforming it.”
On Monday, Biden was in California's Bay Area, touting $600 million in climate projects he's gotten through Congress before headlining four campaign fundraisers across San Francisco.
The president largely focused on his agenda and accomplishments, taking only a few glancing swipes at Republican lawmakers opposing his climate agenda.
"Unfortunately, some of our MAGA Republican friends in Congress are continuing to try to undo all the progress we've already made in the first two and a half years," Biden said.
It’s about as far as Biden seems willing to go in criticizing the GOP while seeking reelection for a second term.
In Philadelphia, Biden did not mention former President Donald Trump or his predecessor's recent federal indictment. Instead, he kept to the same economic script that's helped him with working-class voters throughout his career. He also called on the wealthiest Americans and corporations to pay their fair share in taxes.
"The bottom line is this: It’s time that big corporations and the very wealthy start paying their fair share," Biden told the crowd on Saturday. "I made a promise, and I’ll keep it for the next four years if I’m elected, that no one making under $400,000 will see a penny of their federal taxes go up. And they haven’t. We kept that promise, and I will keep it. But it’s about time the super wealthy start paying their fair share."
Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic political consultant who advised President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, says it's wise for Biden to focus on his record and the economy.
"If Joe Biden wades into the culture war argument, he will lose the election. Why? It's an argument that Democrats frankly just can't win," Sheinkopf told Spectrum News. "Stay away from culture wars; talk about what you've done for the people."
Biden's reelection campaign has gradually gained momentum since April when he formally announced his bid for a second term in a video released on Twitter.
He will be headlining fundraisers in four states for the rest of June. All told, the president's reelection campaign will have 20 fundraising events with first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in the second half of June, per The Associated Press.
It's a balancing act for Biden, between presenting himself as laser-focused on the job he wants to keep while flexing his political muscles when necessary, especially as Republicans continue to make his age and his family's business dealings major campaign issues.
Sheinkopf says he agrees with Biden's approach: "He's got to protect himself. He's got to protect his record. And starting out slow is the best way to do that."
Biden's reelection campaign must provide an initial fundraising report next month, which will be considered an indicator of the enthusiasm for his bid for a second term — all while 11 declared Republican candidates, and counting, battle to take him on.