In a pivotal moment for the Biden campaign, leadership seeks to steer staff focus away from negative press. Amidst internal critiques and a challenging week, President Biden's campaign reinforces its commitment to electoral goals.
Axios reported that last Friday, Jen O'Malley Dillon, the chair of President Biden's campaign, hosted an all-staff call. This session, which included DNC members, was primarily aimed at rallying the campaign's spirits following what many perceived as a lackluster debate performance by Biden.
O'Malley Dillon also appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that morning.
These efforts were in response to growing concerns about the campaign's direction and Biden's recent public health issues, which included a COVID diagnosis impacting his vocal performance.
An AP/NORC poll recently revealed a significant sentiment among Democrats: 65% expressed a desire for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, highlighting the stakes and the mood within the party.
Amid these challenges, O'Malley Dillon's message was clear and direct. "Don't watch cable news all the time," she advised the staff, emphasizing the disconnect between media narratives and the campaign's actual progress on the ground.
"That is not the real world. The real world is the voters that are standing with us, the delegates that are with us, and we're going to weather this because of this organization," O'Malley Dillon stated, reinforcing the importance of their grassroots efforts.
She continued to underline the ongoing fieldwork, especially in swing states where thousands of doors were knocked on, reaching out to both previous non-supporters and those undecided.
The campaign has not shied away from discussing Biden's health. O'Malley Dillon candidly shared with the team, "I talked to him this morning – he sounds like sh*t because he's not feeling that well, but he is doing the work, and he is focused on what you guys are doing."
This openness about Biden's condition seemed to be an effort to counteract the internal whispers questioning his mental fitness post-debate, a topic of considerable debate within party lines.
Despite this, she reinforced his resolve: "Biden is in this race and in it to win it," aiming to quash any doubts about his perseverance in the race.
The discussion also surfaced deeper rifts within the party. While some aides remained staunchly supportive, others appeared disillusioned, concerned about the campaign's transparency regarding Biden's capabilities.
A DNC official voiced a poignant critique, "I appreciate the focus on staff efforts, but no one wants or needs to be gaslit about the president." This comment reflects the tension between maintaining campaign morale and addressing genuine concerns among the staff.
Moreover, some Democrats expressed relief at their decision to refrain from joining the campaign, indicating a cautious or critical stance among party members.
In a bid to invigorate the team, former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh also spoke, delivering a spirited call to action. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's up to you. It is up to us to say: 'Okay, wait a second. Screw it! We're gonna go deeper. We're gonna move harder. The people of America want to vote for us," he declared.
Walsh's words aimed to instill a fighting spirit, urging the campaign staff to double down on their efforts despite the setbacks and criticisms.
The collective efforts of O'Malley Dillon and Walsh illustrate a strategic push to reinforce campaign solidarity and re-focus on critical electoral work amidst external pressures and internal divisions.
O'Malley Dillon's remarks on voter engagement efforts highlighted significant achievements: "Over the course of the last week alone, we had 100,000 door knocks. We had 76% of those people that are with Joe Biden, and those are not Joe Biden voters. Those are our re-engagement targets, the people that haven't checked in yet, they are expansion targets–the people that weren't with us in '20 but have moved to us and our issues since then," she explained.
This statement underlines the campaign's strategic focus on broadening its base and re-engaging with Americans who may not have supported Biden in the past.
Such efforts are pivotal as the campaign navigates through internal and external challenges, aiming to solidify a broad coalition of support ahead of the upcoming electoral battles.
In conclusion, the Biden campaign, through strategic communications and focused electoral work, is making a concerted effort to navigate through a tumultuous period marked by public health concerns, internal critiques, and media skepticism.
The leadership's call to ignore the cable news cycle and concentrate on tangible voter interactions and grassroots mobilization highlights a critical pivot towards reinforcing the campaign's foundational strengths amidst adversity.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the resilience and adaptability of Biden's team will be crucial in shaping the outcomes of the next electoral cycle.
