Biden makes CNN debut with $25 million ad campaign in GOP primary, prioritizing economy

President Joe Biden is launching a $25 million television and digital ad campaign in battleground states this month, as Republicans prepare for their first presidential primary debate. The campaign’s first ad, titled “Fought Back,” focuses on the economy and aims to improve voter perceptions about Biden’s handling of the economy. It also references former President Donald Trump, as Democrats seek to tie GOP candidates to Trump’s “MAGA agenda.” The campaign comes as polls show that a majority of Americans still believe the economy is in a downturn or getting worse, and only 37% approve of Biden’s handling of the economy.

The ads highlight the impact of Biden’s legislative accomplishments, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the American Rescue Plan. They also acknowledge the progress made since the Covid-19 pandemic initially devastated the economy, with unemployment at record lows and the economy leading the world. The ads emphasize that Biden’s laws have helped rebuild the country, but ultimately credit the American people as the heroes of the story.

The ad campaign is part of the Democrats’ plan to counterprogram the Republican debate, where the Biden campaign believes the GOP candidates will compete to out-MAGA each other. The campaign believes that the GOP’s strategy is extreme and out of touch with the American people. The ads will run for 16 weeks on broadcast and cable television in battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The campaign is also targeting Hispanic and African American media in these states, as well as Hispanic voters in Florida.

To reach a wider audience, the campaign plans to run ads during highly watched television events like the NFL kickoff and the World Series. They will also place ads on streaming services like YouTube Reserve, Hulu, and Connected TV, and create short-form content for Instagram and YouTube. The campaign aims to capitalize on these platforms to engage with voters and promote Biden’s message.

Biden has framed his campaign as a battle against Republican extremism, criticizing “MAGA extremism” in his launch video. While Trump plans to skip the debate and instead do an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, the Biden campaign is still working to tie the GOP candidates to Trump’s agenda. They will hold press conferences and events in Milwaukee, where the debate will take place, to engage with key coalition groups and contrast the “MAGA Agenda” with Biden’s record of accomplishments.

The Democratic National Committee and Biden campaign will also set up a messaging “war room” in Washington to provide rapid response throughout the debate. The campaign sees this ad campaign as an aggressive and effective strategy to reach all Americans and convey Biden’s message for the middle class and fundamental freedoms. With this historic buy, they aim to ensure that the President’s message reaches Americans where they receive their news.

Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-20 11:10:00