This week’s sevens state swinging through the first and second family is just the beginning: the White House is mapping out a campaign of more than a week – in red and blue states – to sell the COVID stimulus.
Why it matters: President Biden’s top advisers see the $ 1.9 billion dollar bill, which Biden signed on Thursday, as the key to strengthening his political fortunes. The bill’s strong bipartisan approval ratings give Democrats the opportunity to lure Republicans into states that will determine elections in the foreseeable future.
What we hear … Team Biden divided each day into themes that highlight different benefits of the bill, according to an administrative official familiar with the plans:
- Today, Biden will launch the “Help is Here” campaign with a speech in the White House. Vice President Harris and Second Secretary Doug Emhoff are hosting a launch event in Nevada. Dr. Jill Biden, a teacher, will travel to New Jersey to highlight the impact of the bill on schools and students.
- Tuesday’s theme will be ‘help for small businesses’. The president will fly to Pennsylvania, and the vice president and second lord will visit Colorado.
- Wednesday “aid for schools” – will include the first lady in New Hampshire and the second gentleman in New Mexico.
- Thursday – “help to stay in your home” – will emphasize the measures in the bill to cover rents, protect people from eviction and help people who are homeless.
- Friday – “help immediately with direct control” – will have Biden and Harris in Georgia.
Biden, who has not yet had a press conference as president, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos has given a one-on-one interview, which airs on Good Morning America on Wednesday.
- Other administrative officials, including cabinet secretaries, will conduct regional and national interviews and opportunities this week to further strengthen the campaign, the official said.
- Biden sal tik Gene Sperling, director of the National Economic Council under Presidents Obama and Clinton, to oversee the implementation of the giant aid package, the Washington Post first reported and Hans Nichols, Axios, confirmed.