Democratic Senate candidates across the battleground states are strategically positioning themselves toward the political center and right, a response to polls showing President Biden trailing former President Trump in key swing states. Biden currently faces a deficit against Trump in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina, according to Fox News polling. Democratic candidates, like Nevada’s Jacky Rosen, are emphasizing bipartisan credentials and distancing themselves from Biden’s agenda. Rosen, who has a 98.6% voting alignment with Biden, highlights her efforts to work with both parties on issues. Her campaign emphasizes her bipartisan record and effectiveness as a senator.
Incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, facing a tough re-election campaign, has recently distanced himself from the “defund the police” movement. Casey, facing criticism from Republican opponent Dave McCormick for shifting positions on immigration, has focused on economic populism and attacking corporate profiteering, known as “greedflation.” His campaign acknowledges the challenges posed by Biden’s low approval ratings.
Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin, running in a state that narrowly favored Trump in 2020, has positioned herself as a “pro worker” candidate. While expressing support for Biden, Baldwin joined other vulnerable Democrats in opposing the president’s unfreezing of Iranian assets. Her campaign emphasizes her advocacy for Wisconsin’s working class and her willingness to challenge the president when necessary.
Democratic incumbents in Ohio and Montana are also facing close races. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, despite a 99% voting alignment with Biden, has broken with the president on electric vehicle tax credits and the repeal of Title 42. Montana’s Jon Tester, facing a challenger who portrays him as “two-faced,” has taken positions to the right of Biden on immigration, backing the Laken Riley Act, which would require the arrest of illegal immigrants charged with certain crimes. Tester has criticized Biden’s handling of the border and secured funding for law enforcement in Montana.
Biden, meanwhile, faces accusations of moving further left on issues such as the Israel-Hamas conflict and student loan handouts. Amid historically low approval ratings, Biden has sought to appease his Democratic base by embracing progressive policies and aligning with figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
As Democratic candidates attempt to appeal to moderate voters, Biden’s declining popularity and unfavorable standing against Trump in battleground states pose significant challenges for their re-election prospects. The political landscape remains fluid with less than six months until the general election.
