Jul 5, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Biden campaign launches $50M July media blitz in battleground states

Rebecca Falconer

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris join hands in the air as they view the fireworks on the National Mall with First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff from the White House balcony during a 4th of July event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4. — Left to right: First lady Jill Biden, President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff at the White House balcony during a Fourth of July event at the White House on Thursday. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

The Biden-Harris campaign announced Friday a $50 million July paid media blitz in battleground states that will include "strategic investments around key events" including the Olympic Games and the Republican National Convention.

Why it matters: President Biden has faced calls from some Democrat lawmakers, Democratic donors and top U.S. newspaper editorial boards to step aside following his lackluster debate performance against former President Trump.

Biden is trailing Trump in several polls following his June 27 debate performance that the president himself has described as "bad," but which he and his aides put down to a cold and jet lag from foreign trips earlier in the month.
Axios' Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei reported earlier this week that the Biden campaign was embarking on a huge political, PR and personal drive in an attempt to rally Democrats to move on from public debate about the president's age and his future.

Driving the news: The Biden-Harris campaign said in a statement it will target voters via TV, radio, and digital "on the issues that will decide this election."

Namely, "a woman's right to make her own health care decisions, economic relief and opportunities for middle- and working-class families, and the threat Donald Trump poses to our democracy and the rule of law."
The president, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff plan to travel across the U.S. this month to highlight accomplishments and address key voter issues, per a campaign statement.
"The President can also be expected to engage in frequent off-the-cuff moments over the course of the month, as he has consistently throughout this campaign, including most recently at a Waffle House where an organic video has garnered well over 28 million views and counting," the statement said.

Zoom in: The Biden-Harris team has already targeted Thursday night's Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular and will also hit Monday's "The Bachelorette" season premiere in an attempt to "capitalize on pivotal high viewership and politically diverse audiences," per the statement.

The campaign aims to reach "a swathe of voters" when the Paris Olympics airs on NBC this month, an event that's "popular among every demographic and increasingly popular among Gen Z."
Biden's interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that's airing Friday is part of a campaign focus on national, local and constituency media interviews planned for this month, including in Black and Hispanic media, according to the campaign.

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Biden campaign launches $50M July media blitz in battleground states

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