philadelphia / washington —
U.S. President Joe Biden describes next year’s election as a battle for "the soul" of his nation. His campaign has centered on that, and assertions that he has improved Americans’ lives through his stands on the economy, access to abortion, and threats to democracy.
In recent months, he has crisscrossed the nation to talk up legislation that has created jobs, to promote his efforts to protect abortion rights and improve gun safety, and to speak — often passionately — about his work to protect constitutional rule.
He has approached so-called kitchen table issues in metaphorically apt settings that let him communicate several messages at once, such as when he told first responders Monday in Philadelphia — the birthplace of the U.S. Constitution — that firefighters once saved his house from burning down.
Or when he visited the district of one of his loudest Republican detractors in November to tout his work in bringing them climate-friendly jobs.
"The historic investments we’re celebrating today is in Congressman [Lauren] Boebert’s district," Biden said. "She’s one of the leaders of this extreme MAGA [Make America Great Again] movement. She, along with every single Republican colleague, voted against the law that made these investments in jobs possible."
Or, at an event in November touting job growth, when he flexed his credentials as a grandparent to a rural Minnesota mother who tried to silence a crying baby, telling her, "It’s OK. Kids are allowed to do that with me."
From his perch at the White House, Biden seems confident about his chances of defeating his most likely challenger, former President Donald Trump.
When a reporter asked him in early December if he thought Trump could be beaten by any Democrat other than him, Biden paused, smiled and said, "Probably 50 of them. … I’m not the only one who can defeat him, but I will defeat him."
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Biden Stumps on Economy, Abortion, Democracy – and on Not Being Trump
