Biden campaign presents strategy for debate week in new memo

WASHINGTON — The Biden campaign and its allies plan to hold 1,600 events and run a new series of TV and digital ads ahead of Thursday’s presidential debate, which they called “one of the first moments… where a larger share of the American electorate ” will tune into the campaign, according to a new memo first obtained by NBC News.

Events will include a national mobilization of surrogates, events targeting groups the campaign considers crucial to its coalition, such as members of the LGBTQ community and college students, and 300 debate night parties.

Some of these watch parties will be hosted by social media content creators – who the campaign says will grant access to the post-debate rotation room, a place normally reserved for accredited media.

This pre-debate push will begin on Monday, when the campaign and its allies host 16 events in a dozen states to mark the second anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Wade, including events featuring Vice President Kamala Harris in Maryland and Arizona.

Biden’s campaign seeks to present the debate as “two distinct visions for the future”, creating a contrast between the presumptive nominees in a tight race less than five months before voters cast their votes.

Voters will see “President Biden, who is fighting for the American people, and Donald Trump, who will take the stage as a convicted criminal fighting for himself, no matter how much harm he inflicts on the American people,” the campaign spokesperson said. by Biden, Michael Tyler. in the memo.

Tyler laid out key issues where Trump “continues to pose the most extreme threat,” pointing to the end of Roe v. Wade. Wade, attacks on democracy and economic plans.

An April NBC News poll found that a plurality of registered voters – 23% – said inflation and the cost of living were the most important issues facing the country. But the same poll revealed that Trump advanced 22 points when voters were asked which of the two men would be better at handling the issue.

Biden is spending several days at Camp David preparing for Thursday’s debate, including facing off against his personal lawyer Bob Bauer, who plays Trump. Bauer also played Trump during debate prep in 2020.

Bauer is joined by a number of Biden confidants who are working to prepare the president ahead of the debate, including former chief of staff Ron Klain, campaign chairwoman Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and White House senior adviser Anita Dunn.

Trump has been holding informal political sessions ahead of the debate. A campaign official also said that Trump’s rallies and interviews demonstrate “elite resistance”, adding that the former president “does not need to be programmed by officials” like Biden.

Polls indicate the race for the Oval Office is neck and neck, with a Fox News Poll from last week, showing Biden getting support from 50% of registered voters, compared to Trump getting 48% support, which is within the poll’s margin of error.