It is not often that President Joe Biden addresses the American people in a so-called “prime time speech,” a speech broadcast live. Thursday he will. And the topic, which the White House released earlier this week, is a testament to presidential aplomb: “The battle for the soul of our nation.”
Thursday night’s speech, against the historic backdrop of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the United States Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and later the Constitution was written, marks the start of a campaign sprint to the Congressional elections on November 7, when Americans build a new House of Deputies elect, and a third of the Senate seats is also at stake.
For a long time, the Democrats seemed to be heading for a loss of the majority in both chambers, because Biden’s presidency can be summarized briefly with the words ‘weakness’ and ‘bad luck’. Bad luck from the ongoing pandemic, high gas prices and inflation, weakened his response to the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, as well as to the dire shortages of baby milk powder in his country.
Series of successes
Symbolically, the biggest blow to Democrats was, of course, the Supreme Court’s abolition of the right to abortion. Even then, Biden, who mainly presents himself as a Catholic, received criticism from his own ranks that he had not spoken clearly enough in the abortion issue.
But the summer also brought a string of successes for Democrats: the historic energy and climate legislation passed by obstacles and delays, as well as a controversial bill in Republican circles that provides better medical care for veterans. The successful drone attack on Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is also celebrated as a success of the Biden administration, as are the growth in the number of jobs in recent months and the very slightly falling gas prices in the US.
The chances of Democrats retaining at least a majority in the Senate have risen sharply in recent weeks, from 50 to 64 percent, according to pollsters. That they also win the House of Representatives seems less likely, but for the first time in months there are Democratic politicians who openly express that ambition.
On the attack
Biden himself, just recovered from corona and therefore less hesitant than before about public space and contact with citizens, seems convinced that now is the time to go on the frontal attack against Republicans for the first time since his election victory.
At least, the portion of Republicans who remain loyal to Trump, despite the incriminating information that came out during the Capitol storming hearings and the discovery of confidential documents at Trump’s golf resort in Mar-a-Lago.
“For God’s sakes, which side are you on,” the president bellowed at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, after he marveled at Trump supporters who say they advocate law enforcement while defending the storming of the Capitol. .
He called the threat to FBI people by Trump supporters who still believe Biden didn’t legitimately win the election “sickening.” Last week, Biden called the “Republican ideology” “semi-fascist” at an election rally in Washington. Biden was so outspoken only two years ago, as a presidential candidate.
Kansas
And while analysts in US media warn that going too aggressive is risky for a president who still has more outspoken opponents than supporters, there are also signs that some of the Republican following has reached a limit in the past year.
For example, nobody expected that in conservative Kansas, where no Democrat has won an election since 1964, a clear majority was in favor of retaining the right to abortion during a referendum in early August.
Biden wants to make Congressional elections a referendum on democracy itself Politico because of his fierce statements. In the same piece, the magazine quotes anonymous White House officials as saying they are seeing “clear joy” in the president for the first time in months.