Joe Biden is running an unusual presidential campaign for an incumbent seeking to defend the White House.
So far this month, Biden has enjoyed a lengthy summer vacation during one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, and skipped traditional political visits like the Iowa State Fair.
Instead, he made a gaffe-filled speech in Arizona and visited states which have not voted Democrat since 1964.
It’s an unusual campaign; then again, it’s hardly been a normal one for his likely Republican rival Donald Trump.
However, the President’s actions suggest he may have given up ahead of a crucial electoral year.
Fundraisers Lacking for Joe Biden
President Biden has begun employing fundraisers for his 2024 campaign, although not at a rate of urgency.
As of last quarter, he had only four people on the fundraising payroll, all of whom were working out of party offices in Delaware.
Joe Biden was accused of running a “basement” campaign in 2020. With staffers seemingly working closer to Biden’s homes rather than the political targets, it’s possible he may be approaching next year’s election in a similar manner. The lack of urgency to employ fundraisers is peculiar given that the Democratic primaries are five months away.
His Visits Have Been Strange
Although he’s on a planned vacation at the moment, President Joe Biden has prioritized unique commitments compared to a traditional campaign schedule.
After skipping the Iowa State Fair, Biden made a trip to Utah. The state can hardly be described as a battleground; the last Democrat elected there was Lyndon B. Johnson, with Democratic presidential candidates failing to achieve more than 40% of the state’s vote in the almost 60 years since.
His visit to Arizona made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He described the Grand Canyon as one of the “nine” wonders of the world filled with “ironic” species. Biden later clarified his remarks, but such gaffes cannot help garner support from important voters.
Inaction On Several Issues
The Biden-Harris inaction is ultimately only 50% his fault.
Aside from high-profile disputes with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Kamala Harris has been relatively quiet in her first three years in office.
Gaffes, of course, are picked up by the media, but Harris’ campaigning has been somewhat limited to focusing on target demographics who are traditionally Democratic voters anyway.
That’s not to say Biden has been picking up all the slack. His “no comment” response to the Maui fires, issued after leaving a Delaware beach, upset many concerned by the desperation faced by Americans who were evacuated for their lives. Repeated press statements issued in the aftermath suggests the Biden campaign fear the response may come back to haunt him.
Last, but by no means least, he has to face the controversy surrounding his son Hunter. Once unsubstantiated evidence is now becoming a prominent discussion in the political sphere, although Biden’s campaign has repeatedly distanced itself from the criminal proceedings.
That said, it will undoubtedly be brought up by his Republican rivals as the election draws closer.
His relative silence on the issue only raises more questions than answers.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events, including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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