Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain wishes President Joe Biden would stop talking about bridges and focus more of his attention on economic issues.
Biden’s former top man told POLITICO that while there was certainly nothing wrong with Biden talking about infrastructure, even the greatest accomplishments might not move the needle if the American people were worried about day-to-day issues like the cost of gas, groceries, and rent.
“I think the president is out there too much talking about bridges,” Klain lamented. “He does two or three events a week where he’s cutting a ribbon on a bridge. And here’s a bridge. Like I tell you, if you go into the grocery store, you go to the grocery store and, you know, eggs and milk are expensive, the fact that there’s a f**king bridge is not …”
Klain went on to argue that a focus on local infrastructure projects might be more effective for a candidate running for Congress who was trying to show how effective he had been in bringing federal funding home to his district — but did not have the same impact to someone running for another term in the White House.
“He’s not a congressman. He’s not running for Congress. I think it’s kind of a fool’s errand. I think that [it] also doesn’t get covered that much because, look, it’s a f**king bridge. Like it’s a bridge, and how interesting is the bridge? It’s a little interesting but it’s not a lot interesting,” he added.
Klain’s advice was for Biden to stick to the economy — but not the current economy so much as the one he planned to foster in a second term.
“The president’s most effective economic message is contrast around whose side are you on, and compassion for the [pinch] of family budgets, and his agenda to bring down costs and raise incomes — and that lauding achievements — especially ones with abstract benefits — is less persuasive with voters,” Klain explained.
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Biden may yet face an uphill battle even if he takes Klain’s advice, as recent polling suggests more Americans believe the economy was better prior to Biden taking office in 2021.
Even an informal poll done during a live MSNBC segment resulted in everyone surveyed saying that the economy was better under former President Donald Trump.
WATCH:
Raise your hand if you think President Trump's policies on the economy would be better for your family ✋ pic.twitter.com/5WqShG0mlZ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) April 10, 2024