Democrats in tight races across the country are already dreading and carefully wording their answers to the question of whether they’d campaign alongside President Joe Biden.
In CNN’s conversations with two dozen candidates and campaign strategists, the level of enthusiasm was mixed. But even with the president at about 40% job approval in his best polls, the answer for most of them is yes – as long as he’s coming to talk about money flowing to their districts and not hoping to get them to put on Biden campaign buttons.
That’s a distinction that even Democrats in relatively safe seats are making, saying they’re happy to welcome Biden in the right circumstances.
“Is he bringing CHIPs Act money that we deserve and need in Arizona? Is he bringing money for our infrastructure, including almost $100 million for I-10 expansion?” said Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton, a Democrat who represents a fairly blue district. “If it’s on an issue that I believe in, that I’ve worked on, then yes, of course I would appear with the president.”
Biden advisers hope the administration’s legislative accomplishments – like the bridges, broadband, battery plants and pipe replacements funded by the infrastructure and CHIPs bills, or announcements around cutting student loan debt – will be a source of latent strength as the year goes on: the president may not be popular, but so much of what he has done is that even Republicans have tried to grab some of the credit despite their multiple votes against it.
Still, with the tight balance of power in Congress, not all Democratic candidates are eager to be seen with Biden. Some gave ambiguous answers when asked if they wanted the president on the ground with them. An aide to Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a Biden friend for decades who is facing his…
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