Top Biden campaign officials have acknowledged a sense of heightened anxiety following President Joe Biden's recent debate performance. Despite this, they remain optimistic about securing the necessary 270 electoral votes for victory. In a memo obtained by CNN, campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon and campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez outlined a strategy focusing on winning key states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
The campaign emphasized that winning the Blue Wall states is crucial, but they also believe that states in the sunbelt region are still within reach. Recent campaign stops in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, as well as an upcoming visit to Detroit, demonstrate Biden's commitment to these battleground states. Additionally, planned visits to Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas aim to strengthen support among Latino and Black communities.
While acknowledging increased anxiety post-debate, the campaign remains confident based on internal data and public polling indicating a close race in key battleground states. They did note a slight drop in polling numbers among certain Democratic constituencies.
Despite calls within the Democratic Party for Biden to step aside in favor of another candidate, campaign officials dismissed the idea that another nominee would fare better against Trump. They highlighted the campaign's extensive organizing efforts in battleground states, with over 1,200 staff currently on the ground and plans to increase to over 2,000 by the end of the summer.
