(San Diego) Four days before the midterm elections, Joe Biden defended his economic record on Friday, in an attempt to avoid a probable Democratic rout, on which his Republican opponent Donald Trump seems to be betting to quickly announce his presidential candidacy for 2024.
“We have made a lot of progress over the past 20 months to strengthen the economy […] and we just have to continue in my opinion, ”argued the American president during a trip to San Diego, California.
The United States is currently experiencing its worst inflation in 40 years and soaring prices are crippling the Democrats, who are trying to keep their majority in Washington to govern.
Mr. Biden promised to “bring it down”, and especially insisted on the massive investments made by his administration – in particular in semiconductors and the climate.
America retains “strong points”, he insisted. The labor market, for example, remains in good shape, with an unemployment rate of 3.7% and 261,000 jobs created in October, despite the rise in interest rates which raises fears of a recession.
“As president, I will not accept the argument that the problem is that too many Americans are getting good jobs,” he said.
Democrats are on the defensive ahead of the ballot on Tuesday, November 8. The polls predict a large victory for the conservatives in the House of Representatives, which must be completely renewed, and have recently leaned towards a narrow Republican majority in the Senate, where a third of the seats are at stake.
Trump dreams of 2024
On the strength of this scenario, Donald Trump is signaling more and more clearly his intention of wanting to regain the White House.
“I will very very very likely represent myself. Be ready, ”launched the former Republican president Thursday evening to a crowd of supporters gathered in the state of Iowa. “We’re going to take back Congress, we’re going to take back the Senate,” he added. “And in 2024, we will take back our magnificent White House. »
The billionaire, who never conceded defeat in 2020 and has been flirting for months with the idea of running for a new term, continues to exert his grip on the Republican Party.
He has dubbed a large number of his candidates for these “midterms”, is increasing the rallies to support them and will probably take credit for their success if they deprive Democratic President Joe Biden of his majority in Congress.
PHOTO TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul (center) receives help from Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a rally in Manhattan on November 3.
A success for the Conservatives on Tuesday would allow him to strengthen his political capital. By announcing his presidential candidacy in stride, he would pull the rug out from under the feet of potential rivals like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“We can bet on a quick announcement,” admitted Thursday Kellyanne Conway, his former adviser to the White House and close ally.
Citing anonymous sources, the news site Axios bet Friday on the date of November 14 for such an announcement, which could also weigh on the various legal files concerning Donald Trump.
The real estate mogul is being investigated for his role in the Capitol raid, managing White House archives and is being sued by New York State courts over his financial affairs .
Democratic strongholds under threat
PHOTO SAUL LOEB, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
President Joe Biden
In this state, in the hands of Democrats for more than 20 years, the tide could turn on November 8.
As clouds gather over Governor Kathy Hochul’s campaign, the party has sent former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris to her side.
Other Democratic strongholds, such as Oregon or Colorado, also seem weakened by the discontent linked to galloping inflation, which Republicans blame on Joe Biden.
To counter this message, the president embarked on a tour of the country, insisting on his efforts to protect the working classes and employment.
On Thursday, Joe Biden touted erasing student debt during a visit to New Mexico. After his visit to California, he must go to Chicago on Friday evening.
Accused by Republicans of having let the southern border turn into a sieve and the streets of the country into a cutthroat, the president is trying to mobilize independent voters in defense of the right to abortion and democracy.
He plays a lot in this election: if he loses control of Congress, the end of his presidency will be paralyzed and the future complicated.
Joe Biden says so far he intends to run again, but the prospect does not necessarily delight all Democrats, because of his age – soon to be 80 – and his unpopularity. A heavy defeat would shake this scenario even more.
