President Joe Biden on June 17 held his first political rally since announcing his reelection campaign in April, addressing labor union members in Philadelphia in an effort to win back white working-class voters.
This is the first time ever that the AFL-CIO union has endorsed a candidate so early in the race, according to Biden.
“For the first time I’m aware of, the AFL-CIO endorsed this early and every union, as well. Because we’re coming together,” he said at the beginning of his speech.
“I’m more honored by your endorsement than you can imagine. Coming this early, it’s going to make a gigantic difference in this campaign.”
Biden has long expressed his support for labor unions and positioned himself as the most pro-union president in U.S. history. However, his handling of the nation’s economy has been a source of concern for many Americans, notably blue-collar workers, because of high inflation that has outpaced wage growth.
“If the investment bankers in this country went on strike tomorrow, no one would notice it,” he said. “But if this room didn’t show up for work tomorrow, the whole country would come to a grinding halt.”
Biden went on to highlight his legislative wins, which he said created 13 million new jobs and 800,000 manufacturing jobs. Inflation has been falling over the past 11 months, he noted.
“It’s about building an economy literally, not figuratively, from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down,” Biden said.
The phrase “building the economy from the bottom up and middle out” has become a mantra of Biden’s, as he has long argued that national prosperity doesn’t trickle down from wealthy individuals or companies. Instead, a thriving middle class is the major driver of sustainable growth and prosperity.
“You’ve carried the country on your back. You’ve carried long enough,” he said. “It’s time for millionaires and billionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share. I can get that done, but I need you badly. So are you with me?”
Biden’s economic argument aims to bolster support among blue-collar workers, but it’s unclear whether his messaging resonates with voters, as his approval rating remains near an all-time low.
On his way to his rally in Philadelphia, Biden was joined by Democratic officials from Pennsylvania, including Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, on a tour of the collapsed Interstate 95 roadway. On June 11, a tanker truck hauling gasoline caught fire, causing the concrete to buckle and collapse.
“Thanks to some smart thinking and some innovative design and using materials right here in Pennsylvania, we’re going to get it done in record time,” Biden said of the road’s reconstruction.
The trip to Philadelphia also coincided with Jill and Joe Biden’s 46th wedding anniversary.
“The only reason we’re going to Philadelphia: It’s my wedding anniversary,” Biden told reporters. “And we figured ... with my Philly girl, we’d go to Philly. You can smile; it’s OK. It’s a lousy joke.”
When asked about the nature of his campaign and whether it'll be a nasty one, Biden told reporters, “Well, it depends on who the nominee is.”
