A curious part of the 2022 campaign season is that thus far, President Joe Biden has not been barnstorming the country and holding rallies for Democratic candidates like crazy.
Instead, he seems to be unwanted in much of the country. And it makes sense. His approval rating is not good — to put it mildly. And candidates do not want to be associated with him.
As he was departing the White House on Thursday, one reporter noted, “John Fetterman’s gonna appear with you today in Pennsylvania, but there haven’t been that many candidates campaigning with you…”
“That’s not true!” Biden shot back.
He added, “There’ve been 15. Count kid! Count!”
He then insisted more campaigns are going to want him to campaign with them.
Watch the video below:
"John Fetterman's gonna appear with you today in Pennsylvania, but there haven't been that many candidates campaigning with you —"
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 20, 2022
Biden, grabbing the reporter: "That's not true! There've been 15. COUNT KID, COUNT!" pic.twitter.com/Weg5WPHrSU
This is just sad.
As if it needs to be said, fifteen is not some whopping number when you look at the number of candidates running for the House, the Senate, and governor. There are 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats up for grabs this year. Additionally, 36 states are holding gubernatorial elections. So 15 candidates is not a lot or something to brag about.
Earlier this month, Axios highlighted the disparity in the number of trips Biden has taken for political reasons in the first three quarters of the year compared to two immediate predecessors.
In the first three-quarters of 2018, then-President Donald Trump visited 57 cities and held 27 fundraisers.
And as of Sept. 30, Biden has visited 47 cities and held 11 fundraisers. Axios also notes, “Many of Biden’s trips have been to friendly coastal cities, like Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. He’s also visited swing states including Michigan and Ohio, where he’s been eager to tout his manufacturing message.”
A quick look at his approval rating nationally and by state provides a helpful glimpse into his limited political trips and why he tends to visit liberal havens. FiveThirtyEight’s approval rating tracker finds that 42.5% of Americans approve of his job performance, while 53% disapprove.
Meanwhile, a Morning Consult poll released on Oct. 13 found his approval rating underwater in 45 states. California, New York, Maryland, Vermont, and Connecticut are the only states where his approval rating is positive. Not even his home state of Delaware gives him a positive approval rating.
It would have been better if Biden borrowed from Trump and said something like, “Everyone wants me to campaign with them. I get so many calls from candidates. So many calls. You wouldn’t believe it. They’re begging me, saying, ‘Sir, please come campaign with me. Please!’ But I’m too busy. I can’t be campaigning all the time.”
Of course, such a statement would not have been too believable, given his standing right now. But it would have been better than touting such a pathetic and puny number.
