This week, President Joe Biden is acknowledging his party’s electoral successes and taking pride in a few of them, such as the reelection of the governor of Kentucky.
At a campaign event on Thursday night, Biden made his first remarks in public regarding Tuesday’s elections: his administration’s programmes were being well-received by voters.
“The Biden-Harris agenda has taken hold,” he said at a campaign fundraiser in Chicago. “People are winning elections on it over and over and over.”
Specifically, Biden touted the re-election of Gov. Andy Beshear, saying, “In Kentucky, a Democratic governor was re-elected after … running on programs that were all Biden initiatives.”
In Ohio, where voters approved a ballot measure that guaranteed abortion rights in the state constitution, he also cited Democratic victories. And with that, Biden launched an attack on his possible rival in November, claiming, “Donald Trump is the sole reason abortion is prohibited in the United States.”
Biden also emphasised Democratic achievements in Virginia, such as taking back control of the Legislature, and expanding the Democratic majority on the state’s Supreme Court and electing Philadelphia’s first Black female mayor.
“Since I came off the sidelines to go toe to toe with Donald Trump, we haven’t stopped winning,” Biden said, after he cited the party’s performance in the midterm elections.
Even while Biden claimed his administration was to blame for this week’s Democratic triumphs, it’s likely that several of the largest ones had causes unrelated to the president.
For instance, despite calling Beshear a “good friend” on Thursday, Biden did not endorse her.
Beshear is a governor “who’s extremely well liked,” according to a Democratic strategist in Kentucky this week. Meanwhile, a senior Democratic staffer to a senator in a swing state observed that although “it’s a win for Democrats, it’s not like the president’s name was on the ballot.”
An NBC News exit poll in Ohio this week showed strong Democratic turnout coupled with poor opinions of Biden — his approval rating among Ohio voters was 39%. Nearly three-quarters, 73%, said Biden should not seek re-election, compared with 63% who said Trump shouldn’t run, either.
In his remarks, Biden appeared to joke about recent polls that showed him trailing Trump in battleground states but said there are “10 other polls, and every one we are winning.”
A New York Times/Siena College poll released Sunday found Trump leading Biden in five of the six swing states that Biden won in 2020, prompting handwringing among Democrats over the weekend.
Biden’s remarks Thursday were not the first time he has boasted about this week’s election results. He was quick to highlight the party’s wins on election night.
“Across the country tonight, democracy won and MAGA lost,” Biden tweeted Tuesday. “Voters vote. Polls don’t. Now let’s go win next year.”
Across the country tonight, democracy won and MAGA lost.
Voters vote. Polls don't. Now let's go win next year. Donate to join us:https://t.co/MTqe9XyGm6
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 8, 2023
