President Joe Biden is starting the election year by focusing on what he perceives as the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump, signaling the urgency his campaign sees in addressing his likely general election opponent as reported by NBC News on January 5, 2024.
Biden’s first campaign speech of the year, to be delivered near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington and the Continental Army faced harsh conditions during the fight for American independence, aims to emphasize the ongoing struggle for democracy as a “sacred cause.”
Commemorating the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Biden will call on Americans to reject political violence and defend fundamental freedoms.
The senior adviser highlights the significance of the upcoming 2024 election, framing it as a moment for the American people to render a judgment on the events of Jan. 6.
The adviser underscores Biden’s perspective, stating that while Trump attempted to exploit the perceived weakness of American democracy on that day, Biden witnessed the strength of a democracy that endured.
This echoes Biden’s earlier focus on the “soul of the nation” during his 2020 campaign against Trump.
Despite initial success in framing the race as a battle for the nation’s soul, Biden has faced challenges in the polls leading up to 2024, causing concerns among Democrats.
Some worry that Biden is dedicating too much attention to economic matters rather than concentrating on Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
Biden’s advisers assert that the upcoming speech is an “opening salvo” for 2024, signaling a sharpening of strategy with a renewed focus on Trump after months of economic messaging.
The speech draws parallels between Biden’s invocation of George Washington’s leadership at Valley Forge and the example set by Washington in voluntarily surrendering his military commission before becoming president.
This is used to emphasize the importance of not using any means to hold on to power and the belief that power in America resides with the people.
Biden’s campaign justifies the timing of the speech by pointing to Trump’s overwhelming lead in the Republican primary campaign and the proximity of the first nominating contest.
With more voters tuning into the race, Biden’s advisers believe it is the right time for the president to return to a message that was part of his campaign kickoff video in April, which featured images of the Jan. 6 attack.
Despite the criticism Biden faced for major speeches on democracy and political violence before the 2022 midterms, the campaign sees these issues as motivating factors.
They argue that painting a picture of the threat posed by Trump and the Republican Party is a moral obligation. Additionally, campaign officials suggest that Republican-leaning voters, even those who supported Trump four years ago, may be open to voting for Biden if Trump becomes the nominee.
Mike Donilon, Biden’s chief strategist, has been actively involved in crafting the speech, which has been under consideration for months.
Biden’s decision to fine-tune and rehearse the speech after returning from a holiday vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands underscores its importance in setting the tone for the year ahead.
