Heading into Thursday’s debate, President Joe Biden's allies had hoped for a strong and concise message on immigration to counter former President Donald Trump's attacks on this politically charged issue. However, Biden's performance fell short of expectations.
A source close to the White House mentioned that Biden stuck to his official position but could have expressed it more forcefully. Another source highlighted the need for Biden to remind the American public of his record on border issues and assisting long-term undocumented individuals.
Despite immigration being a top concern for voters, polling data has consistently shown Biden trailing Trump on this issue. In response, the White House has recently implemented measures to tighten border security while also extending protections to spouses of undocumented US citizens.
While Biden's advisers did not view immigration as their defining issue, the president was prepared to address it during the debate. He referenced actions taken by his administration and a border security bill that was thwarted by Trump earlier in the year.
During the debate, Biden repeatedly pointed to the failed border bill, attributing its demise to Trump. An immigrant advocate praised Biden for highlighting the bipartisan effort on the border bill and condemning Trump's legacy of family separation.
However, the advocate also noted that Biden needs to refine his messaging to effectively communicate his strong stance on immigration, leveraging his moral authority on the issue.
