Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, the White House plans to “launch an aggressive effort” touting President Joe Biden’s administration’s “accomplishments” — specifically the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden is expected to sign this week.
A White House memo from Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon and Senior Adviser Anita Dunn to Biden’s chief of staff Ron Klain, obtained by POLITICO Playbook, outlines the intended victory lap.
“For many administrations, August can be a momentum killer,” the memo said. “For this team, August is going to be a momentum builder as we come out of last week – which featured a string of bill signings, gas prices back under $4, Sweden and Finland’s ascension to NATO, the House passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and more – that underscored President Biden’s leadership.”
“In August and through the fall, the Administration and our allies will launch an aggressive effort to promote the benefits of the President’s accomplishments and the Inflation Reduction Act to the American people and highlight the contrast with Congressional Republicans’ vision,” the memo continued.
The memo claims that the Inflation Reduction Act is “overwhelmingly popular with the American people,” citing internal polling that shows its messages “are among the highest testing” ever. Democrats defeating special interest groups also polls well, the memo said.
Democratic aides are hopeful about the recent slew of Biden moves that the administration hails as accomplishments, POLITICO reported. The publication noted that though recent developments have barely affected Biden’s approval ratings, aides are still hopeful that they will improve in the coming months.
“If Biden can start to climb up a few points, hopeful Democratic operatives say, then candidates who were holding even against Republicans while he was in the 30s might really have a shot at winning,” writes CNN’s Edward Isaac-Dovere. “They’re not sure there’s enough time to turn public perception around, though, and Republicans are still looking to make him an anchor.”
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In a Building a Better America Tour, the White House plans to “make clear that the President and Congressional Democrats beat the special interests and delivered what was best for the American people” while painting Republicans as siding with special interests and pushing an “extreme MAGA agenda” that debilitates families.
Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, cabinet members, and lawmakers will take this message to the American people across the country, the memo said, noting that Cabinet members “will travel to 23 states on over 35 trips touting the Inflation Reduction Act and the administration’s accomplishments.”
The White House’s digital strategy plan includes publishing a new website on climate incentives, releasing explainer videos on the Inflation Reduction Act with White House policy experts, and hosting influencer briefings to “educate and activate prominent content creators to amplify” White House messaging online.
“Along with President Biden and Vice President Harris, the Cabinet, elected officials and allied group partners are more united than ever and moving in unison to show how Congressional Democrats beat the special interests and delivered for the American people,” the memo said. “Our goal for the next few weeks is simple: Take our message – one that we know resonates with key groups – and reach the American people where they are.”