President Joe Biden is returning to the campaign trail this week, entering a new phase of his political career as he prepares to leave the White House and focuses on ensuring Vice President Kamala Harris succeeds him.
Biden and Harris will kick off the final push toward the election together on Labor Day with an event at a local union hall in Pittsburgh. This is a strategic move to appeal to working-class voters in a city that has been significant in Biden’s political journey.
While on the campaign trail, Biden is also addressing recent developments in the Middle East, including the Israeli military's recovery of the bodies of six hostages, reportedly killed by Hamas in Gaza. Among them was Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose parents Biden and Harris each contacted on Sunday.
Biden’s return to the campaign trail is carefully planned as he transitions from a presidential candidate to a surrogate role, having decided not to seek a second term. After a two-week vacation in California and Delaware, he expressed eagerness to rejoin the campaign. His team has been outlining his plans for the fall, focusing on solidifying his legacy, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The president is beginning his campaign efforts with a focused plan that includes stops in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan over the next five days. These visits target key "blue wall" states where he narrowly defeated former President Donald Trump in 2020. The trip will feature a combination of campaign rallies and official events promoting popular policy items, serving as a strategy for his appearances in the coming months.
As the vice president scales back her public appearances to prepare for the September 10 presidential debate, Biden is stepping in to represent the campaign in important battleground states this week.
Since ending his reelection campaign, Biden has seen a slight increase in his approval ratings in some polls. He is expected to spend considerable time in Pennsylvania, his birthplace, where his supporters believe his influence could benefit Harris. Biden has emphasized the importance of winning Pennsylvania, discussing a potential tour with Governor Josh Shapiro.
Democratic supporters believe Biden's appeal among blue-collar and older voters—key demographics in his 2024 campaign—will remain strong, even as his support from other groups has waned.
There is ongoing coordination between the West Wing, the vice president’s office, and the campaign to determine where Biden's presence will be most effective. This strategy may change as the campaign progresses, especially with the limited time Harris has to connect with voters.
Discussions are also taking place about how to leverage Biden's presence for fundraising efforts in the fall. The frequency of joint appearances by Biden and Harris is still being decided, with some allies suggesting a "divide and conquer" strategy leading up to Election Day.
Biden has expressed his willingness to do whatever is necessary for the campaign, according to a source familiar with the situation, as he views his decision to step aside as a significant risk that must succeed.
This week, Biden will host White House events in rural southwestern Wisconsin, focusing on clean energy job investments and climate change efforts, and in Michigan, where he will highlight local job creation initiatives.
“He’s going to actively participate in the campaign and showcase what the administration has accomplished. That’s a crucial message to convey,” said former Delaware Senator Ted Kaufman, a close friend and longtime adviser to Biden. “It’s all hands on deck.”
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Navigating this situation could be a delicate task for Democrats, as Republicans are eager to link Harris to what they consider the shortcomings of Biden's policies, particularly on issues like immigration and the economy—areas where Trump has consistently polled better throughout the campaign.
Although Harris has advocated for a "new way forward," she has yet to significantly distance herself from Biden's track record on both domestic and foreign policy. Instead, she has adopted different messaging strategies, focusing on economic themes like affordability, with an emphasis on grocery prices and housing.
In a recent interview with CNN, Harris defended Biden's economic achievements and dismissed questions about her lack of action on new policy proposals she has discussed on the campaign trail. "We had to recover as an economy, and we have done that," she said, citing her efforts with Biden to curb inflation and reduce prescription drug costs.
She acknowledged that there is still more work to be done but emphasized that progress has been made. Harris also praised Biden, saying he possesses "the intelligence, the commitment, and the judgment and disposition that I think the American people rightly deserve in their president."
Doing the job
President Biden is not only working to bolster Vice President Harris' candidacy but is also focusing on key domestic and foreign policy goals he wants to achieve before the end of his term.
White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt stated that Biden will be "leaning in heavily" to support Harris's campaign while maintaining his focus on governing.
“The president’s schedule will be robust, and he intends to give it his all in achieving progress for hard-working Americans, whether through implementing policies or pursuing legislative action,” LaBolt said.
Biden has urged his team to prioritize the implementation of critical legislation and efforts to reduce costs, along with addressing key legacy issues such as the "Cancer Moonshot" initiative, support for veterans, combating gun violence, and managing artificial intelligence, among other important priorities.
The president remains committed to ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He has recently contacted the leaders of Israel, Egypt, and Qatar to advance efforts toward a ceasefire and a hostage agreement.
“It’s time this war ended,” Biden declared on Saturday. “I believe we’re close to reaching an agreement. It’s time to bring it to a close.”
In his final months in office, Biden is also focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine. He has recently spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who sent senior officials to Washington last week.
With campaign pressures behind him, the president is expected to embark on several international trips, including to Poland, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, the G20 Summit in Brazil, and Africa, where he has long promised a visit. Additionally, he is slated to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month.
Having Biden engage with global leaders and reinforce US leadership can benefit Vice President Harris. “He’s setting her up for success by revitalizing these relationships – and he excels at that,” noted a former US official.
Where Biden could help
With his decision to step aside, Biden has transitioned from being a principal candidate to a prominent surrogate, reflecting the new role in his remarks at the Democratic National Convention last month.
“I promise I’ll be the best volunteer the Harris-Walz campaign has ever seen,” he declared.
Biden’s contributions and legacy were celebrated during the convention in Chicago, but the subsequent days of programming shifted focus to the party’s future. Despite his exit from the 2024 race due to concerns about his age and campaign viability, Biden continues to enjoy strong support among crucial demographics for the upcoming election.
Although Biden was forced out of the race, recent polls show a slight increase in his approval rating, now at 41% according to the CNN Poll of Polls, up from 37% in July.
Mitch Landrieu, a co-chair of the Harris campaign and former colleague of both Biden and Harris, noted, “He’s going to be a particularly powerful surrogate for the vice president because he is well-liked, and his decision to step down has enhanced his credibility significantly.”
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, in an interview with CNN, emphasized Biden’s role as “the ultimate validator” for Harris among union workers. Shuler pointed out that a significant portion of voters in key states, such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, are union members, with a substantial number in Pennsylvania as well – a group that strongly supports Harris.
“He will be very motivating for people, and his involvement will add another valuable asset to the campaign,” Shuler said.
Additionally, Biden will play a critical role in appealing to older voters. Despite losing ground with some demographics during his 2024 campaign, he made significant gains with seniors, a traditionally Republican-leaning group.
In their first joint event after Biden’s withdrawal from the race, the president and vice president highlighted Medicare’s role in negotiating prescription drug prices, a topic likely to resonate with senior voters.