Biden under fire from Democrats for moderating approach ahead of 2024 contest

Cami Mondeaux

March 17, 08:11 AM March 17, 08:12 AM

As President Joe Biden prepares to launch his reelection bid for 2024, he has begun using some familiar tactics from old playbooks: inching toward the middle to win over centrists and some Republicans he’ll need to secure the White House for another term.

Over the last few weeks, Biden has made a series of moves siding with conservatives on key matters such as crime, immigration, and oil. Although the White House has insisted those decisions are not part of a larger reelection strategy, the recent shift is not sitting well with many of his party's more liberal members.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS BLAST BIDEN FOR DC CRIME BILL ABOUT-FACE

“I think the devil is in the details, and we will see what happens,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) told Politico. “But has he made decisions that progressives disagree with? Absolutely. We will see what comes up in the next year.”

Biden first broke with Democrats earlier this month when he announced he would sign a GOP-led bill seeking to strike down the newly rewritten criminal code in Washington, D.C., which reduces the penalties for some crimes. The White House initially expressed opposition to the bill before Biden reversed course and said he would not veto the measure.

Several House Democrats were furious with Biden over the decision, accusing the president of flip-flopping on previous pledges to defend the district’s self-governance.

“This ain’t it. DC has a right to govern itself, like any other state or municipality. If the President supports DC statehood, he should govern like it,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted. “Plenty of places pass laws the President may disagree with. He should respect the people’s gov of DC just as he does elsewhere.”

Biden once again broke with his party after announcing earlier this week he would approve an $8 billion Willow Project in Alaska that plans to extract 600 million barrels of oil from federal lands. The plan breaks from pledges Biden made on the campaign trail in 2020 to halt drilling on federal lands, prompting widespread criticism from members of his party.

“Youth voter turnout was at its highest in 2020 & young folks supported him because of commitments such as ‘no more drilling on federal land,’” Rep. Maxwell Frost (R-FL), the first Gen-Z member of Congress, tweeted this week. “That commitment has been broken.”

Democrats have also grown concerned that Biden is eyeing a move to the right on key topics such as immigration, particularly after it was reported the president is considering a revival of a Trump-era immigration policy that detains migrant families who attempt to cross the border illegally. Biden lifted the detention policy shortly after taking office in 2021, but now, officials are looking at ways to reinstate some of its provisions — stoking anger from Democrats who say Biden has been mum on his plans.

“The lack of communication on immigration-related policy decisions is an insult," Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is heavily involved with immigration reform in Congress, told Axios. "It would be like making civil rights legislative ideas and thoughts without checking with the Congressional Black Caucus.”

The White House has maintained that Biden’s recent decisions are not campaign-related strategies but coincidental timing. Aides pointed to previous instances in which Biden broke with liberals on key matters during the 2020 campaign, arguing his actions are par for the course.

Biden has not announced his reelection campaign, but the president is likely to make a decision in the coming weeks.

The race is on: Here’s what Trump is looking for in possible running mate

Cami Mondeaux

March 16, 08:44 AM March 16, 08:44 AM

The presidential primaries are just under a year away, and the list of possible candidates is far from settled. Still, former President Donald Trump is already eyeing options for his possible running mate.

Several Republicans are already positioning themselves as contenders to run alongside Trump, who has emerged as an early front-runner, while other party members mull a White House bid. The fight for the No. 2 position is a break from the typical primary process, as candidates usually announce a presidential bid for themselves before jockeying as one’s running mate.

THREE ROADBLOCKS LOOMING OVER TRUMP’S 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

“A lot of people are right now auditioning,” Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Florida last month.

High-profile conservatives are flocking to Trump’s side as he kicks off his campaign, including lawmakers such as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who went to cheer on Trump’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this month.

However, spokespeople for the former president say a vice presidential search is not under discussion.

“We appreciate all support for President Trump, but the clear focus is on making sure that he wins the Republican nomination and is well posited to win the general election in 2024,” said longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller, according to the .

Still, Trump has frequently talked about options for his running mate — even before he launched his campaign in November. And the former president has a list of traits he’s searching for in a partner.

First and foremost, Trump is looking for someone who is loyal and will back his plans. This comes after Trump felt somewhat betrayed by former Vice President Mike Pence when he refused to decertify the results of the 2020 election at Trump’s request.

Trump has criticized Pence for that decision, even going so far as to say that his former running mate was to blame for the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

“Had he sent the votes back to the legislatures, they wouldn’t have had a problem with Jan. 6, so in many ways, you can blame him,” Trump told reporters in Davenport, Iowa, on Monday. “Had he sent them back to Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, the states, I believe ... you would have had a different outcome. But I also believe you wouldn’t have had 'Jan. 6,' as we call it.”

Trump is also reportedly considering choosing a female running mate this time around, especially one who has garnered enough star power within conservative circles. Still, the former president has indicated reluctance to choose someone who could overpower him on the campaign trail — which could rule out firebrand members of his party such as Greene or Kari Lake, who ran for governor in Arizona last year.

Trump is likely to choose someone who more closely mirrors his personality — marking a shift in strategy from 2016 when he chose Pence, who, in many ways, stood in stark contrast to Trump’s demeanor.

“I think the president learned a lot from his experience with Pence,” Trump adviser Michael Caputo said. “I think this time Trump’s going to be looking for someone cut from the same cloth he is, not from a different, complementary cloth.”

Trump reportedly has a long list of choices he is considering as a possible running mate, which includes former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). Haley has already launched her own presidential bid, and Scott is considering one.

Regardless, Trump said he feels confident in his options.

“We’re going to have a lot of great choices for vice president,” Trump said earlier this week. “We’re gonna pick a great one.”

Most GOP voters prioritize presidential candidate's policy over ability to beat Biden: Poll

Jack Birle

March 14, 01:41 PM March 14, 01:41 PM

Most Republican voters said they would prioritize a candidate who shares their position on major topics over a candidate who could defeat President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

A new CNN poll of 1,045 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents found 59% prioritize a candidate holding their views over 41% who prioritize a candidate's ability to defeat Biden.

MOST PEOPLE WHO LACK TRUST IN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS CITE POLITICAL INFLUENCE AS TOP CONCERN: POLL

The numbers are in contrast to Democratic voters before the 2020 presidential election, who believed defeating then-President Donald Trump was a priority over agreeing on major policy matters by a majority or plurality, in polls conducted between March 2019 and March 2020.

Those surveyed also expressed a lack of confidence in the future of the country, with only 30% saying the country's best days are still ahead of it. The vast majority, 70%, believe the country's best days are behind it, in stark contrast to Republican feelings four years ago.

In a poll conducted in September 2019, 77% of GOP respondents believed the country’s best days were ahead of it, compared with 18% who said its best days were behind it.

The poll, conducted from March 8-12, also has Trump leading Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), 40%-36%, with the next closest candidates, former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) and former Vice President Mike Pence, each garnering only 6%. When voters were asked who their second choice for presidential nominee would be, DeSantis led with 31%, followed by Trump with 20%, then Pence with 17%, with no other candidate receiving double digits.

DeSantis has gained ground on Trump in some polls in recent months, as the two remain far ahead of the field of candidates and contenders in nearly all polls. Recent polls have shown DeSantis leading Trump in some states' primaries, including in Florida and California.

Trump announced his run in November 2022, while DeSantis has not announced a White House bid but is expected to in late May or early June. The former president has taken aim at DeSantis several times on the campaign trail, but the Florida governor has mostly ignored Trump's comments.

Iowa Republicans 'shop around' for 2024 alternative to Trump

Cami Mondeaux

February 23, 04:00 AM February 23, 04:00 AM

DES MOINES, Iowa — Nearly 100 Iowans packed into the Reading Room on the third floor of the Cowles Library at Drake University on Wednesday, huddling together in the small study space to learn more about prospective 2024 candidate Tim Scott (R-SC).

Many who attended Scott's speech said they weren’t entirely familiar with his background or experience, while others told the Washington Examiner they were simply taking advantage of the opportunity to hear a potential presidential candidate speak.

Several attendees described the event as a chance to scope out alternatives to former President Donald Trump as the GOP primary field for 2024 begins to take shape.

TIM SCOTT CALLS FOR ‘COMMON GROUND’ CONSERVATISM IN CAMPAIGN-STYLE TRIP TO IOWA

“I'm very open-minded. I used to be a registered Republican, now I'm an independent, and I just [want to] see who I align with the most,” said Jennifer Pittham, a graduate of Drake University who attended the event on Wednesday. “I’m just trying to shop around and see who I like the most.”

Although Scott has not yet declared a run for president, the South Carolina senator has fueled speculation by embarking on a national listening tour, a move that followed the launch of his Opportunity Matters Fund PAC late last year.

Scott, who is the only black Republican in the Senate, is trying to position himself as a "common ground" conservative in what could end up being a crowded GOP primary in 2024. However, he has made a habit of working in the background since he arrived in the upper chamber in 2013 — possibly losing out on the national name recognition some of his would-be rivals enjoy.

“I'm interested in Tim Scott as a candidate. I identify more as a libertarian, but I think that he could definitely be a good choice,” said John Grant, a student at Drake University. “I’m just kind of exploring candidates that you don’t [see] a whole lot of media attention about.”

The comment came during Scott’s second stop on his national “Faith in America” listening tour as the South Carolina senator attends several campaign-style events throughout central Iowa. His trip coincides with that of several other prospective GOP candidates flocking to the Hawkeye State as the primary cycle begins to ramp up.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley made her first trip to Iowa on Monday, holding a campaign event just one week after she announced her White House bid. Haley, like Scott, has called for a fresh brand of leadership, billing herself as the best candidate to help lead the country past "division and distractions."

"We’re ready. Ready to move past the stale ideas and faded names of the past. And we are more than ready for a new generation to lead us into the future,” Haley said in her campaign announcement video.

The remarks echo Scott's speech in Des Moines on Wednesday, where he denounced Democratic politicians who feed "the empty calories of anger to people who are starving for hope."

Mike Pence has also made the rounds in Iowa, speaking at an event with Advancing American Freedom last week. Although he has not yet declared his intent to run, Pence is positioning himself as a principled conservative.

The former vice president split with Trump, who still today holds on to unfounded allegations of election fraud, after he decided not to stand in the way of the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

The bombastic former president continues to command strong support from the grassroots of the Republican Party, and dislodging his grip over the GOP could prove difficult in 2024, especially if the primary field becomes crowded.

Current polling shows Trump leading the field of prospective candidates, with roughly 50% of Republican voters saying they’d vote for him in 2024, according to Morning Consult. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) comes in second at 30% support, with Haley and Pence tied at 6%.

Trump, who announced his third presidential bid three months ago, has yet to make his way to the state, considered important to 2024 hopefuls given the first caucuses of the primary cycle are held there, at least for the GOP this year. Trump has a mixed record in Iowa. He narrowly lost the caucuses in 2016 to then-candidate Ted Cruz (R-TX), only to win the general election later that year. He won both the caucuses and general election there in 2020.

Although Trump is noticeably absent from the state, he nonetheless ramped up his operation there on Monday, with his campaign naming Marshall Moreau as the state campaign director. In 2022, Moreau managed the candidacy of Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird, who defeated Democratic incumbent Tom Miller.

Trump also has one of his national campaign team members, Alex Latcham, based in Iowa.

Only Trump, Haley, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have announced their White House bids, but several others are expected to follow in the coming months.

Some voters the Washington Examiner spoke to expressed an openness to a larger primary pool.

“I think a large group of candidates would be kind of interesting,” Grant said. “It wouldn't … be good or bad because it would split the votes, probably among the two front-runners like DeSantis and Trump. So, it'd be kind of interesting — interesting to see if, like, a dark horse actually won because the votes were split.”