U.S. President Joe Biden's campaign is capitalizing on former President Donald Trump's recent felony conviction. The Biden camp has launched a new television ad blitz, zeroing in on Trump's legal troubles and portraying him as a self-serving criminal. This marks a significant shift in the Biden campaign's approach, as it directly targets Trump's character ahead of the upcoming presidential debate.
The 30-second ad, released on Monday, focuses on Trump's May 31 conviction in a Manhattan court on 34 counts of falsifying documents to conceal hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. The ad also highlights Trump's losses in two civil court cases, including a $355 million fraud ruling against his businesses and a sexual assault case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. "We see Donald Trump for who he is," the ad's narrator states. "He's been convicted of 34 felonies, found liable for sexual assault, and he committed financial fraud."
The ad contrasts Trump's legal woes with Biden's accomplishments, positioning the current president as a leader who is "fighting for you and your family." This aggressive commentary is part of a $50 million advertising campaign aimed at making Trump's criminal status a central issue in the election. The campaign's timing is crucial, as it comes just weeks before the first scheduled televised debate between Biden and Trump on June 27.
Polling data indicates that Trump's conviction could be a pivotal issue for swing voters. A recent Politico poll shows that 21% of independent voters are less likely to vote for Trump due to his conviction, a significant factor in a tight race where both candidates are running neck-and-neck. The poll also revealed that 43% of voters believe the verdict was intended to benefit Biden.
Biden's decision to amplify Trump's legal issues follows a more restrained initial response to the conviction. The president had previously downplayed the verdict, emphasizing the importance of defeating Trump at the ballot box. However, with polling suggesting that Trump's criminal record could deter swing voters, the Biden campaign has ramped up its efforts to highlight the former president's legal troubles.
Trump's campaign has responded by denouncing the trial as "election interference." They point to polls showing Trump's strength in swing states and argue that the former president's legal issues are being used to undermine his candidacy. "The contrast between President Trump's strength and success versus Crooked Joe Biden's weakness, failures, and dishonesty will be made clear on the debate stage next week," wrote Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on X.
As both candidates prepare for the upcoming debate, Biden is expected to undergo intensive preparation at Camp David, with his former chief of staff, Ron Klain, playing a key role. In contrast, Trump is relying on his regular interviews and rallies to hone his debate strategy, though his aides insist he will not engage in traditional debate prep.
The debate, set to take place in a television studio without a live audience, will feature strict rules to ensure a fair exchange. Both candidates will appear at uniform podiums, and their positions will be determined by a coin flip. Microphones will be muted except when it's a candidate's turn to speak, and campaign staff will be barred from interacting with their candidate during two commercial breaks.
In the broader context of the campaign, Trump is making a concerted effort to fracture Biden's support among Black voters. Trump recently unveiled his "Black Americans for Trump" coalition, aiming to capitalize on waning enthusiasm for Biden among this demographic. During a speech at a predominantly Black church in Detroit, Trump falsely claimed that Black workers fared better during his presidency than under Biden. His efforts to attract Black voters include highlighting Biden's role in passing a 1990s crime bill that led to high incarceration rates among Black citizens.
The Biden campaign has countered by reminding voters of Trump's controversial past, including his demand for the death penalty against five wrongly convicted youths in the Central Park jogger case and his racist campaign against Barack Obama's birthplace. "We sure haven't forgotten Trump repeatedly cozying up to white supremacists and demonizing Black communities to his political benefit," said Jasmine Harris, the Biden campaign's director of Black media.
