President Joe Biden on Wednesday cast a major new investment in battleground Wisconsin as emblematic of the nation’s economic comeback. But the main thrust of his address wasn’t so much to boast about the current climate as it was an attempt to contrast it with his predecessor’s record.
In turning the spotlight on to Trump’s shortcomings, Biden was trying to close a persistent polling disconnect that has harmed his reelection campaign: Many voters perceive that his predecessor’s record was more robust than his. Ashowed that 37 percent of voters believe Trump “has done more to promote infrastructure improvements and job creation,” compared to 40 percent who said the same for Biden. Trump never passed infrastructure legislation, while Biden did.
But it was also, plainly, a campaign address. Biden in his remarks repeatedly denounced Trump for only helping the wealthy and for leaving “a lot of people behind.” Biden advisers have largely shrugged off the lackluster polling, arguing that the president will make gains on the ground as voters see the results of his economic agenda — and see ads and hear from allies who make the connection between those projects and Biden himself.