Hunter charges don't worry Biden audience, but economy does

Hunter charges don't worry Biden audience, but economy does

US President Joe Biden gave a speech on his "Bidenomics" economic agenda in Largo, Maryland
US President Joe Biden gave a speech on his "Bidenomics" economic agenda in Largo, Maryland. Photo: Jim WATSON / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Be the first to follow YEN.com.gh on Threads! Click here!

Jogging to the podium, US President Joe Biden didn't betray any concern that his son had just been indicted on gun charges -- and nor did the audience.

The crowd cheered and whooped as he arrived at a college in Largo, Maryland to give a speech aimed at wrestling the narrative away from his recent troubles and back to his "Bidenomics" agenda.

Afterwards they crowded round to try to shake the 80-year-old's hand or take selfies, the worries about polling, impeachment inquiries, age and criminal charges briefly forgotten.

"That's a distraction, that's political distraction," said Susanna Anderson, 49, when asked about the issues facing the president.

Wearing a blue T-shirt made by her own small business saying "The VP Looks Like Me" -- a reference to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is Black -- the mother of two showed a picture she took with Biden.

Read also

31-year-old US-based Ghanaian man who went missing while swimming found dead

"When they have an election coming up they have to throw something and see if it sticks. I'm not focused on that," she added.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

The night before, Biden used the exact same words -- "not focused" -- as he brushed aside the impeachment probe launched by Republican lawmakers over Hunter Biden's business dealings.

He made no mention on Thursday of the fact that his son had been indicted for buying a gun when he was using drugs, casting a new shadow over Biden's 2024 re-election campaign.

'Tip of the iceberg'

What about his age, a frequent lightning rod for criticism by Republicans against America's oldest president?

Biden greeted members of the crowd after the speech
Biden greeted members of the crowd after the speech. Photo: Jim WATSON / AFP
Source: AFP

"Did you see him run up the stage? I'm not worried about that," said Enicia Porter, 34. "He has a firm handshake... He reminds me of my grandfather."

Read also

Musk, Zuckerberg visit US congress to discuss AI

The White House has been keen to get Biden out on the campaign trail again, amid a sense that his stewardship of America's economic recovery is not registering in the polls.

For his speech at Prince George's Community College in Largo, given against a backdrop of American flags and "Bidenomics" signs, Biden introduced a new line of attack: MAGAnomics.

The idea is to portray all Republicans as followers of former president Donald Trump -- known for his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) slogan -- and highlight Trump's economic failures.

Biden also sought to blame them for the threat of a looming government shutdown at the end of this month.

But was the message getting through here, to the audience of around 200 local people and college students in a dormitory town half an hour's drive from the White House, let alone to millions of voters?

"I think this was a good tip of the iceberg," said Porter, a local chapter treasurer of Student Veterans of America. "But I'm going to need more concrete follow up."

Read also

Auto Show opens as Detroit weighs possible strike

Porter said she had asked Biden about housing in particular "and he nodded and said we have a whole plan."

'Papa Joe'

Biden still had work to do to convince the electorate, agreed Don Pruett, 68, director of planning at the college.

Students lined a balcony to see Biden give his speech
Students lined a balcony to see Biden give his speech. Photo: Jim WATSON / AFP
Source: AFP

The president's speech is "going to plant the seeds and over the course of time it needs to be nurtured," he said. "We need to see the fruits."

Susanna Anderson, the blue T-shirt wearer, however said Biden was "getting the message through to the people who need to hear" -- including her sister, whom she said had just had her student loans forgiven by the Biden administration, a policy opposed by Republicans.

Biden hammered that message home repeatedly, slamming the lectern at one point as he reeled off what he said were Republican plans to cut spending.

He also lashed out at the record of Trump -- who faces a string of criminal charges including over election interference, and whom he will likely face in a rematch in 2024 -- and warning darkly that "democracy's under attack."

Read also

SoftBank supremo eyes rare success with Arm IPO

With a gruelling campaign ahead, Pruett reckoned Biden faced a "tough road" for re-election.

But he added: "There's so much chaos on the other side... if he continues to be stable, Papa Joe will be there."

New feature: Сheck out news that is picked for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.