Senior Democratic strategist David Axelrod hit President Biden over his economic messaging Wednesday following a campaign event in Milwaukee, saying the president’s “pride” could be his undoing in November.
Biden has consistently framed struggles with the economy in the past tense, and treated the issue as already won. Most Americans disagree, with polls showing most trusting former President Trump on the economy more.
Axelrod, who was former President Obama’s campaign strategist, said it’s “absolutely true” that the economy has significantly improved under Biden.
“But that’s not the way people are experiencing the economy,” he said in a CNN appearance. “They are experiencing it through the lens of the cost of living. He is a man who’s built his career on empathy, why not lead with the empathy?”
“I think he’s making a terrible mistake,” he continued. “If he doesn’t win this race, it may not be Donald Trump that beats him, it may be his own pride.”
In the Milwaukee campaign event Wednesday, Biden said his administration had “already turned” the economy around. That pride in previous accomplishments may not work with voters, Axelrod said, who have a more negative view of the economy.
Economic messaging has been a struggle for the Biden campaign, after last year’s “Bidenomics” tour fell flat and concerns remain about inflation and gas prices.
Inflation was just 2.7 percent year-over-year in March, down significantly from its highs last year, but that isn’t being felt in voter sentiment. The issue is still top of mind for voters, according to Gallup polling.
Only 38 percent of Americans have a “great deal” of confidence in Biden’s ability to lead on the economy, according to a Gallup poll last week, a near record low for the figure. Trump never received less than 42 percent confidence on the issue when he was in office.
Now, 46 percent of Americans said they have a “great deal” of confidence in Trump, a disparity that could impact the president’s odds at reelection this November.