US President Joe Biden is campaigning with candidate John Fetterman in Pennsylvania on Thursday, where Democrats and Republicans are fighting a bitter battle for a senator seat that could topple a majority in the upper house.
• Also read: Biden is taking tougher action against high gas prices
Joe Biden has landed in Pittsburgh, where he is scheduled to visit a bridge being repaired that he hopes will become a symbol of the success of his infrastructure investment program, before heading to Philadelphia for a fundraiser with Mr. Fetterman, who hopes to join the Senate after the November election.
Known for his tattoos and love of shorts and hoodies, this behemoth greeted the President on the runway in a more classic suit.
After being credited with a comfortable 11-point lead over Republican and superstar surgeon Mehmet Oz in mid-September, he now faces a much closer race, with the two men separated by just five points in the latest polls. An issue that worries Democrats, who risk Congress eluding them entirely.
John Fetterman had a stroke in May from which he is said to be recovering but which prevented him from campaigning publicly for several weeks.
And days before a scheduled debate between the two candidates, his opponents redoubled their criticism and questioned his abilities, particularly after a television interview in which he used a teleprompter to read questions put to him about hearing problems.
Analysts are looking at Pennsylvania as one of the few key states Democrats must win over to retain control of the Senate after November 8th. In the House of Representatives, the fight promises to be even more difficult.
Joe Biden’s attempts to help his party have had limited impact so far – his unpopularity doesn’t make it any easier. However, in recent speeches he has pledged to protect abortion rights and has shown his willingness to take action against high petrol prices.
But with three weeks to go before the election, Americans appear to be leaning towards the Republican message.
Revolt?
According to a recent survey by the Siena Institute in collaboration with the New York Times, 26% of them named the economy as their top concern and 18% named inflation.
That’s a problem the President can’t solve any time soon. And even on the subjects he feels secure about, things aren’t that simple.
In a speech Tuesday, Joe Biden banked on the outrage sparked by the Supreme Court’s flip-flop on abortion in June to rally votes from the left and center.
The Democrat had predicted a revolt by women voters who would speak out at the ballot box, saying Republicans “hadn’t seen anything yet.”
Siena/New York Times poll goes against Joe Biden’s hopes: Just 5% of respondents said abortion was their top concern.
Midterm elections are traditionally difficult for the ruling party, so a heavy defeat for the Democrats would not come as a surprise.
Experts at the University of Virginia trade newsletter Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball said Wednesday that after wild hopes of success, the president’s party appears to be getting back to reality.
“It’s just difficult for a party to thrive with an unpopular president when faced with strong public concerns about things like the economy and inflation.”