In commercials highlighting investments in infrastructure and industry, as well as the lowering of the cost of certain prescription prescriptions like insulin, Democrats who are locked in difficult Senate contests are relying on their party’s legislative achievements.
In the spotlight are the senators whose votes pushed the legislation to the president. However, President Joe Biden, who actually signed the laws into law, is frequently omitted.
Despite the fact that the majority of Democrats will be campaigning on reproductive rights and drawing comparisons to Republican leadership, senators like Pennsylvania’s Bob Casey and Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin are highlighting their contributions to the Biden agenda without bringing up the president by name.
These new ads provide incumbents with a chance to highlight their accomplishments to date. Nevertheless, the advertisements also draw attention to the delicate task they will face in appealing to Republicans and independents who aren’t planning to support Biden.
“They’re following the opinion of their voters,” commented Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. “These are Democrats competing in swing states, where they must win over voters who aren’t fond of Biden—voters who may lean toward Trump.”
In addition to winning the presidency, Democrats will have to hold on to seven vulnerable seats in the Senate, five of which are located in states that are considered presidential battlegrounds. Democrats in West Virginia are probably out of the race now that Sen. Joe Manchin has announced his retirement. In states that Trump won by 8 and 16 points, respectively, Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Jon Tester of Montana are running for reelection. Democratic candidates are fighting for the seats of Baldwin, Casey, and an unfilled seat in Michigan in the Blue Wall states, which are seen as must-wins for Biden.
Determining their record before Republicans do is a task that Democrats will have to face. The Republican groups want to hold Biden’s COVID-19 economic recovery package, the American Rescue Plan, responsible for inflation and contend that the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated millions of dollars to healthcare and climate change programs, failed to accomplish its intended purpose.
Of course, Republicans will try to link Senate candidates to Biden as well.
“No matter what, these Senate Democrats will be seen in campaign ads alongside Joe Biden because they backed him and voted for his agenda over 90% of the time,” stated Mike Berg, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Senate Democrats are currently outpacing Joe Biden, who is struggling with disapproval and is either tied with or behind Trump in important states, according to polls. As the election draws near and people have more information about the president’s program, Democrats have maintained for months that his support will increase.
As proof that the president’s program benefits down-ballot politicians, the Biden campaign cited the 2022 midterm elections, when Democrats fought off an anticipated red wave.
“The record of President Biden, including his efforts to reduce drug prices and defend reproductive rights, was successful in 2022 and will be successful again in 2024,” stated Seth Schuster, a spokesman for Biden’s campaign.
It appears that the majority of voters are unaware of the Democrats’ track record. The Inflation Reduction Act set a monthly cap of $35 for insulin for Medicare participants. 52% of registered voters older than 65 were aware of this, according to a May KFF poll. About one-third of voters were unable to determine if the Inflation Reduction Act had an impact on climate change, the economy, or inflation, according to an April AP-NORC poll.
According to Mike Mikus, a Democratic strategist from Pennsylvania, “They should be talking about these major pieces of legislation that they pass.” This goes for Sen. Casey and all the other senators running, as well as Joe Biden. First, because it benefits our nation. To top it all off, the people are in agreement with their actions.
Countless advertisements
A new ad by Casey titled “Made in Asia” brings attention to the CHIPS and Science Act, a major legislative victory for Biden. In the summer of 2022, the bill was passed by Congress with backing from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Its goal is to increase American semiconductor production.
As the commercial opens, Casey explains that production of 90% of the company’s advanced semiconductor chips had been shifting to Asia, which has disrupted supply chains and driven up prices. “To manufacture our own chips right here in America, I collaborated with Republicans and Democrats to pass the CHIPS and Science Act.”
Casey has co-aired advertisements with Tester and Brown regarding his efforts to pass legislation to assist veterans impacted by burn pits.
Senator Casey will keep winning every vote and bolstering the Democratic Party across the board, according to a statement from Casey’s spokesman Maddy McDaniel, who emphasized the common values held by Pennsylvanians.
Baldwin, on the other hand, ran an ad touting the insulin price cap from the Inflation Reduction Act, another landmark bill from Biden’s record.
“Thanks to Tammy, now it just costs $35 a month.” The advertisement boasts that Baldwin “stood up to the drug companies and wrote a law capping the cost of insulin.”
According to Baldwin campaign spokesman Andrew Mamo, the advertisements were created to showcase the senator’s accomplishments across the years. Both Trump and Biden were signing her measures to boost American manufacturing into law, as highlighted in her first reelection commercial. A measure that she co-sponsored to restrict the entry of illegal fentanyl into the United States has become the center of attention for others.
People aren’t hoping you’ll solve global problems, but rather that you’ll improve their own life. … “And that’s exactly what Tammy is doing,” Mamo stated.
Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler has stated his belief that all party candidates in the state will benefit from Democrats’ united messaging on abortion, democracy, and the contrast with Trump. Democrats in Wisconsin are targeting not only Biden and Baldwin’s reelection but also legislative gains.
Having numerous Democrats expressing the same vision, goals, and values in various ways and places at the same time is what generates the unity necessary to ensure that the message gets out, according to Wikler.
On occasion, the candidates will all be speaking from the same platform. Baldwin and Biden made an official appearance in Baldwin’s home state in January at an event to promote the funding for an infrastructure bill, which would repair a bridge that connects Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Dave McCormick, Casey’s Republican opponent, criticized the senator last week for voting with Biden 98.5% of the time, following Casey’s appearance with the president in Philadelphia during his tour to the state to appeal to Black voters.
The advertising battles in both states have really barely begun. On Thursday, McCormick’s super PAC, Keystone Renewal, revealed its intention to spend an extra $30 million on the campaign. Ads criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border and elevating McCormick’s visibility have already cost the group $3.6 million.
Businessman Eric Hovde, who is widely believed to be Baldwin’s Republican opponent, published an ad that highlighted inflation and excessive prices at the same time that Baldwin’s insulin commercial went air.
Hovde remarks, “Career politicians like Biden and Baldwin just don’t get it,” as he strolls down an aisle of canned foods and condiments in a grocery store. “People in Wisconsin are finding it more difficult as a result.”