TL/DR –
President Biden has been presenting himself as more relatable to union workers compared to former President Trump, characterizing Trump as a billionaire who ‘looks down on’ working people. Biden’s recent remarks are part of his strategy to maintain support among union workers, a key voting bloc that helped him secure the presidency in 2020. Despite his efforts and endorsements from major unions, recent polling shows Trump leading Biden in several battleground states with a prominent union presence.
President Biden Targets Union Workers, Downplays Former President Trump
Continuing his strategy to appeal to union workers, President Biden again showcased his relatability while contrasting himself to ex-President Trump on Wednesday. Biden has been engaging union workers, highlighting Trump’s privilege and positioning himself as a part of the labor movement.
At Wednesday’s North America’s Building Trade Union (NABTU) National Legislative Conference, Biden expressed, “Folks, we all know people like Trump who look down on us. It’s either Scranton values or Mar-a-Lago values.”
Biden describes Trump as unsupportive and condescending towards American union workers, even suggesting he’d like to confront such disrespectful individuals. He reiterated these sentiments at a conference for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) last week.
The NABTU endorsed Biden on Wednesday, following IBEW’s earlier backing. As part of his strategy to retain his 2020 winning coalition, Biden is placing emphasis on union workers, claiming he’s the most pro-union president in history.
Biden argued that Trump’s inherited wealth and tax avoidance are foreign concepts to working-class Americans, citing how Trump received at least $413 million from his father over time. He went on to criticize Trump’s cavalier attitude towards firing workers, as shown in his reality show “The Apprentice”.
Despite union support shifting towards Republicans in 2016, Biden is confident in his relatability, often referring to himself as “Middle Class Joe.” However, recent polling shows Trump leading in swing states with a large union presence, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
The Biden campaign continues to focus on these battleground states, despite a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll showing Trump’s 6-point lead in six out of seven, with Biden only ahead by 2 points in Michigan.
Nevertheless, Biden has received endorsements from top union groups including the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers, and the major union group, AFL-CIO. He thanked the NABTU for their endorsement, praising unions for their contributions to the U.S. and acknowledging their pivotal support for his 2020 win and senatorial career.
Biden concludes with a stark statement, asserting that Trump’s vision of America is one of “revenge and retribution.”
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