Last week, Joe Biden got the cold shoulder from Ohio’s Democratic incumbents for his visit to Cleveland. According to Punchbowl, Biden hasn’t received an open-arms invitation to other battleground states, either. Senate Democrats facing gale-force headwinds in their states would love to talk about nearly anything else but joint appearances with the deeply unpopular president:
Three of the four most vulnerable Senate Democrats up for reelection this year declined to tell us which administration allies — if any – they’d like to appear alongside in their home states.
With President Joe Biden’s poll numbers averaging in the mid-to-high 30s, it’s no surprise endangered Democrats aren’t clamoring for him to visit their states. But we found that the reluctance to associate with the White House runs even deeper. Senate Democrats mired in tough races are cagey about appearing with any Biden administration officials, even those spearheading broadly popular initiatives. …
“I’ve answered your question,” Warnock said. “I’m focused on who I’m campaigning for, not who I’m campaigning with.”
Warnock’s wariness was echoed by his fellow vulnerable Senate Democratic incumbents.
There’s a reason Warnock doesn’t want Biden around. In the latest Civiqs poll, Biden’s approval rating in Georgia is 25/63. The most recent Quinnipiac poll put Biden’s approval in the state at 33/60 — and that was the outlier that had Warnock up ten points over Herschel Walker.
Warnock’s not the only Senate Democrat attempting to keep Biden out of their state. Mark Kelly, who has been perhaps the quietest Democratic incumbent this cycle, barely wants his own voters to know that he’s around. When Punchbowl found Kelly and asked him whether Biden would join him on the trail, Kelly answered, “I haven’t thought about it yet.” The election is in less than four months, so when does Kelly plan to think about it?
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Answer: When Biden’s Arizona approval numbers improve from 26/64, that’s when.
Catherine Cortez-Masto has already thought about it, and decided that Nevada voters aren’t interested in hearing from Biden. “I’m actually really more focused on me and talking with my voters.” Cortez-Masto told Punchbowl. Why isn’t she interested in presidential pomp and media attention? Well, it comes with Biden’s 29/61 approval rating, that’s why.
Of the four Democratic incumbents Punchbowl contacted, only Maggie Hassan sounded open to “White House visits” on the campaign trail. Biden’s approval rating in New Hampshire is 33/54, but Hassan may figure she’s doomed anyway. But note too that Punchbowl doesn’t suggest that Hassan will welcome Biden to campaign for her, but only that she’s been happy to get Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to make appearances on her behalf.
Even that option isn’t on the table for the other three:
The evasive responses to a simple question might not be that surprising considering Biden’s waning popularity, even among Democratic voters. Yet these same Democratic senators have touted the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and claimed the passage of the Bipartisan Innovation Act would ease supply chains issues.
But none wanted to extend the invitation to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg or Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, two Biden officials intimately involved in both legislative efforts.
Biden’s rapidly becoming persona non grata among Democrats. That won’t help them in this cycle, however, since Senate Democrats except Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have marched in lockstep with Biden for the last 17 months. It’s too late for distancing.
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