Biden wants to sell infrastructure His problem Few buyers
While the president has been plugging the infrastructure package he shepherded through Congress to voters, Democrats in tough re-election fights say their focus is elsewhere.
WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden ramps up his efforts to help Democrats in the midterm elections, he’s focused on a selling point that, so far, voters aren’t: his plan to rebuild the county’s infrastructure.
Standing in an industrial building near the Port of New Hampshire last month, flanked by construction and boating equipment, Biden talked dredging, bridges and lead pipes.
“Folks, this matters. It matters to our safety, our security, our health,” Biden told the crowd there as he promoted the $550 billion infrastructure package he shepherded through Congress last year.
The president’s second trip in six months to New Hampshire, where Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan is expected to face a tough re-election fight, was just the latest in a steady string of stops designed to highlight the legislation.
But yet again that day, by most objective measures, much of the country’s focus lay elsewhere — on a court order lifting the mask requirement on airplanes, on the impact of surging inflation, and on Russia’s renewed assault on Ukraine.
Biden focuses on infrastructure as soaring inflation threatens Democrats’ chances in midterms
APRIL 20, 202201:29
The infrastructure bill has been Biden’s biggest policy accomplishment so far, and is generally seen by voters as a positive. But while they may like the idea of new roads and bridges, it isn’t to be found on the list of top issues they say they care about most.
Instead, inflation, the war in Ukraine, and, as of last week, abortion are top of mind for voters — and, say political strategists and candidates, those areas are where candidates in tough re-election battles are focusing their energy. While Biden and the White House have not avoided the topics, and acknowledge they stand to be major issues this fall, the president has so far continued to devote the bulk of his public message to infrastructure.
“Infrastructure is so far down the list of concerns that if I were the president, I wouldn’t be selling infrastructure,” said Andy Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, of the message to voters. “Yeah, it’s great there’s going to be a bridge, but we’re not going to see that bridge built for five years. They’re not gonna see anything in the short term that is going to impact their lives because of the passage of infrastructure.”
Last month, Biden made stops in New Hampshire, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, and Iowa where his primary message was the way those states stood to benefit from the infrastructure law. The White House also sent Cabinet members and other top officials on trips to 25 states last month to talk infrastructure.
“We’re talking about billions of dollars modernizing roads, bridges, airports, delivering clean water, high speed internet,” Biden said Friday in Ohio, where he also pushed for legislation to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry.
But Democrats in competitive races this cycle say they are focusing more on bread-and-butter issues — efforts to lower housing, child care and insulin costs — when they talk to voters back in their districts.
“People are understanding of the issues around infrastructure, but until we see shovels in the ground, I’m not sure people are going to fully see what that investment means,” said Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who called roads, bridges and tunnels the “lifeblood” of his state.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., one of the most vulnerable Democrats this cycle, has been touting the infrastructure package in constituent meetings and local media interviews, pointing to how it stands to help repair rural roads and upgrade water systems.
Poll numbers push Democrats into ‘dangerous territory’ in midterm meter
MARCH 31, 202202:34
In a paid ad, Kelly touted it as a success story for Arizona that would improve commuting, trade and border security, a message other vulnerable Democrats in swing states are highlighting.
But asked Tuesday what voters care about most, Kelly said they’re “focused on costs of things which are really expensive: gasoline, prescription drugs, food.” And with the Supreme Court’s leaked majority opinion this week, he added that voters also will be focused on abortion rights.
Kelly faces a delicate balance over how much to attach himself to Biden and his policies given the president’s unpopularity in the state, said Mike Noble, chief of research at OH Predictive Insights, who focuses on Arizona and Nevada politics.
“For Mark Kelly, I think the more Joe Biden can stay out of the Arizona Senate race, the better, because Biden’s at a record low job approval number since he’s taken office,” said Noble, who said he thinks a Biden visit to the state could hurt more than help Kelly.
While infrastructure polled well in Arizona six to nine months ago, the economy now dominates the list of voter concerns following the spike in gas and food prices, with immigration becoming an increasing focus with the planned lifting of Title 42, Noble said based on his voter surveys.
In Nevada, where Democratic Sen. Catherine Marie Cortez Masto faces a competitive race, Noble said voters are overwhelmingly concerned about the economy: The unemployment rate there exceeds the national average, and housing prices have increased more there than in nearly any other state.
Get the Morning Rundown
Get a head start on the morning’s top stories.
Enter your email
SIGN UP
THIS SITE IS PROTECTED BY RECAPTCHA PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF SERVICE
“Infrastructure was a win, and so it makes sense to lead with that. However, all the indicators are really showing us that jobs in the economy and immigration are really going to be the top two main issues that voters in Nevada and Arizona,” Noble said.
Recommended
POLITICS NEWS
Jill Biden hears heartbreak of Ukrainian moms now in Romania
DONALD TRUMP
Trump largely silent on abortion at first rally since Supreme Court leak
Biden has sought to link the infrastructure bill to issues around the economy. He has made the case that spending on improving infrastructure at ports will help with supply chain backlogs and that the projects funded will create higher paying jobs. The White House sought to draw attention this month to how the law would fund manufacturing for electric vehicle batteries, lessening dependence of foreign oil amid record high gas prices.
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32922/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32923/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32924/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32925/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32926/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32927/
https://www.hihonor.com/eg/club/topicdetail/topicid-74380/
https://www.hihonor.com/eg/club/topicdetail/topicid-74381/
https://www.hihonor.com/eg/club/topicdetail/topicid-74382/
https://www.hihonor.com/eg/club/topicdetail/topicid-74383/
https://www.hihonor.com/eg/club/topicdetail/topicid-74384/
https://www.hihonor.com/eg/club/topicdetail/topicid-74385/
https://www.hihonor.com/tr/club/topicdetail/topicid-82094/
https://www.hihonor.com/tr/club/topicdetail/topicid-82096/
https://www.hihonor.com/tr/club/topicdetail/topicid-82097/
https://www.hihonor.com/tr/club/topicdetail/topicid-82110/
https://www.hihonor.com/tr/club/topicdetail/topicid-82112/
https://www.hihonor.com/tr/club/topicdetail/topicid-82113/
https://www.emergefellowship.org/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.emergefellowship.org/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/nurmalalinda09/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/afiolondoes/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/afiogebastian/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/karangcengek09/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/kanjutaryana/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/asdaasdasd1111/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/aeni05065/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/tedyeli09/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/wuliddian1/profile
https://www.portabrace.com/profile/iqbalramadan909/profile
https://www.shawl-anderson.org/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.shawl-anderson.org/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.thecookery.org/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.thecookery.org/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.gmartell.com/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.gmartell.com/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.ramsterevents.com/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.ramsterevents.com/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.countryjunction.com/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.countryjunction.com/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.bplnj.org/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.bplnj.org/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.artsincolumbus.org/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.artsincolumbus.org/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.enfieldfestivals.co.uk/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.enfieldfestivals.co.uk/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.dogwoodarts.com/profile/doctor-strange-2-in-multiversul-nembuniei-subtiturat-in-romana/profile
https://www.dogwoodarts.com/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.impunitywatch.org/profile/doctor-strange-az-orulet-multiverzumaban-teljesfilm-magyarul/profile
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32728/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32729/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32730/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32731/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32732/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32733/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32734/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32735/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32736/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32737/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32738/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32739/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32740/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32741/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32742/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32743/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32744/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32745/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32746/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32747/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32748/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32749/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32750/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32751/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32752/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32753/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32754/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32756/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32757/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32758/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32759/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32760/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32762/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32765/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32766/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32767/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32768/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32769/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32770/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32773/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32775/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32776/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32777/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32778/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32779/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32780/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32781/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32782/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32783/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32784/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32785/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32786/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32787/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32788/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32796/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32797/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32798/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32799/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32800/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32801/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32802/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32804/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32803/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32805/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32806/
https://www.hihonor.com/fr/club/topicdetail/topicid-32807/
