Biden to head to Wisconsin ahead of state’s pivotal role in 2024

President Joe Biden is set to visit Wisconsin next week in an early attempt at wooing the swing state, which could play a deciding role in an increasingly likely rematch between him and former President Donald Trump.

The state shocked the rest of the country when its 10 electoral votes went to Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016, flipping to red. But Wisconsin just as easily flipped back to blue in 2020, when Biden defeated the incumbent. With a Democratic governor and a congressional delegation of seven Republicans to three Democrats, Wisconsin has proven to be a true battleground state.

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In an advisory Thursday, the White House announced that Biden would be traveling Wednesday to Milwaukee, where he will tout “Bidenomics” during remarks.

The latest polling out of the state conducted by Bloomberg News/Morning Consult showed Trump defeating Biden 45% to 41%. Several polls in Wisconsin have shown the men in a virtual dead heat, with Biden beating the former president in some surveys and losing to him in others.

As both parties grapple with demographically shifting bases, Wisconsin has become more of a toss-up than ever.

One advantage Biden has at this stage in the election cycle is his ability to focus on the presidential race, rather than the primary. Trump, on the other hand, has become increasingly focused on the Iowa caucuses, despite his campaign and super PAC previously indicating it was moving on to the general election.

Trump has increased his presence on the campaign trail in Iowa and has hosted several commit-to-caucus events across the state with high-profile Trump surrogates.

Given this attention Republicans are paying to early primary states, Biden has an opening to lay the groundwork for the general election in states such as Wisconsin that will be critical for a 2024 victory.

Biden’s 2024 campaign has had a particular focus on these swing states, already cutting several ads aimed at the general election. In Wisconsin, the campaign launched an ad in September promoting Biden’s signature infrastructure law “putting people back to work” in the state. Another ad was launched in November, discussing the president’s actions toward lowering drug prices after Trump revived talk of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Both ads were part of the Biden campaign’s $25 million ad buy in battleground states.

Despite Biden’s head start in the state, “Bidenomics” may be a tough sell. The slogan touting the Biden administration’s macroeconomic successes has failed to move the needle with voters since its summer launch, and even those who believe the economy has improved are not crediting the president.

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House Democrats have further opted against using the president’s slogan, choosing instead “people over politics,” which they believe resonates better.

While Trump is not actively campaigning in Wisconsin, the Republican National Committee has made big moves in the state, making it the earliest vote-banking campaign and choosing to host both the first primary debate and the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.