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WASHINGTON (AP) — Their rivals are busy answering voters’ questions at town halls across South Carolina, glad-handing with business owners in New Hampshire, and grinding to hit every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
While Biden is attending a union parade in Philadelphia on Monday, he has only held one campaign rally since launching his 2024 reelection bid over four months ago. Similarly, Trump, who criticized Biden’s “basement strategy” during the 2020 election, has not campaigned for the past three weeks, with his last appearance being at the Iowa State Fair on August 12.
Veteran Republican pollster Whit Ayres commented on the absence of early-state campaigning, stating, “When you have a massive lead over your primary opponents, it doesn’t seem like a lot of a point.”
Both Biden and Trump have projected an air of inevitability in the 2024 race. Biden has focused on governance and traveling the country to promote his policy accomplishments, while Trump has been dealing with criminal charges in four separate jurisdictions related to the 2020 election and other issues. Trump has expressed frustration regarding the trials, stating, “I won’t be able to go to Iowa today, I won’t be able to go to New Hampshire today because I’m sitting in a courtroom on bull****.”
Interestingly, Trump’s bookings and arraignments have become his highest-profile campaign events, attracting widespread media coverage. His mugshot, now featured on various merchandise, has helped raise over $20 million for his campaign in August alone.
Although Trump’s public appearances have been limited, his schedule is expected to ramp up after the Labor Day weekend. He has planned trips to Iowa, South Dakota, and California, alongside fundraising activities and behind-the-scenes efforts such as creating videos, making phone calls, and building relationships with party officials.
Trump’s approach of limited public campaigning is partly attributed to the significant expenses associated with large-scale rallies, which his campaign has been diverting towards legal fees. Instead, Trump has been attending events organized by state parties and interacting with supporters at local restaurants.
Mike Dennehy, a veteran Republican strategist, believes that Trump is doing the bare minimum necessary to maintain his lead in the Republican primary. Dennehy also stated that Trump’s broader campaign is working hard behind the scenes, emphasizing endorsements and ensuring a strong campaign infrastructure.
Biden, on the other hand, has campaigned even less than Trump. Despite championing South Carolina as the leadoff state for the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential primary, Biden has not visited the state as a candidate. His campaign strategy mirrors past incumbents such as Barack Obama and George W. Bush, focusing on policy achievements, low campaign costs, and support for national and state Democrats.
Biden has attended fundraisers for his reelection campaign and traveled to battleground states on official business. He often blurs the line between politics and the presidency, highlighting achievements like the bipartisan infrastructure law while criticizing Republicans for opposing other initiatives.
His Labor Day travels are taking him back to Philadelphia, where he held his only campaign rally. The city’s convention center hosted a joint endorsement event by some of the country’s largest unions in support of Biden. By returning to Pennsylvania, Biden aims to avoid taking any state for granted, learning from the lessons of the 2020 campaign.
However, the focus on one state can create gaps elsewhere, as demonstrated by Hillary Clinton’s loss in Wisconsin during the 2016 election. Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, highlighted the Biden administration’s commitment to the “blue wall” of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania as crucial for reelection in 2024.
In conclusion, both Biden and Trump have adopted different campaign approaches in the early stages of the 2024 race. While Biden focuses on policy achievements and low-cost campaigning, Trump maintains a relatively limited public presence, primarily due to ongoing legal challenges. However, both candidates are expected to intensify their campaigns as the race progresses.
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