Facing declining poll numbers, some Congressional Democrats are distancing their campaigns from President Joe Biden as they head into the 2024 election, Axios reports.
Biden is currently trailing in national and swing state polls against former President Donald Trump, prompting Democrats to take measures to safeguard their campaigns.
With five months until the election, several Democratic lawmakers have opted to “Biden-proof” their campaigns. One House Democrat told Axios, “[There is] more distancing now as his numbers continue to tank,” indicating that his campaign was “pretty much washing my hands of his campaign.”
This strategy involves subtle distancing rather than outright rejection of the president. Another House Democrat noted, “[There is] always an element where you run your own race, but it’s even more pronounced” given the current political climate.
In swing districts, some Democrats are publicly differentiating themselves from Biden on policy issues. For instance, a group of House Democrats wrote to Biden in May, urging him to take executive action on the southern border crisis. The letter, obtained by CBS News, read, “It has become clear that the current situation remains untenable, but with Republicans playing politics on border security, it is time for your administration to act.”
They urged the president to use all available tools, including executive action, to better address border security, combat illicit fentanyl, and facilitate orderly legal immigration.
Biden is expected to sign an executive order on the border crisis this Tuesday, following months of debate and efforts to craft the appropriate language. This decision comes after Biden spent weeks blaming Congressional Republicans for the migrant crisis and examining whether he had the authority to take executive action on the matter.
Kevin Munoz, Biden campaign spokesperson, defended the administration’s record, stating, “Joe Biden created 15 million jobs, capped the price of insulin at $35, and made health care more affordable than ever. That record of historic results for the American people is what the president and Democrats across the country will be running on.”
As the 2024 election draws closer, the relationship between Democratic candidates and Biden’s administration will be pivotal. The move to distance campaigns from Biden highlights the challenging environment for Democrats, as they balance policy achievements with the need to address voter concerns.
