Biden Makes a Visit to His Hometown of Scranton to Promote Tax Proposal

President Joe Biden was set to visit his childhood hometown of Scranton on Tuesday to kick off three consecutive days of campaigning in Pennsylvania. This move allows him to focus on the battleground state while Donald Trump is in a New York City courtroom for his first criminal trial.

During his visit, the Democrat president intends to advocate for higher taxes on the wealthy, using Scranton, a working-class city of around 75,000 people, as the backdrop. He aims to position Trump, the presumed Republican nominee and a billionaire, as a supporter of wealthy interests.

The focus is on shifting the conversation around the economy, which has left many Americans feeling discontented with their financial situations due to persistent inflation and high interest rates despite low unemployment.

Biden was scheduled to stay in Scranton on Tuesday night before heading to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He would then return to the White House briefly before traveling back to Pennsylvania on Thursday, this time visiting Philadelphia.

By the end of the week, either Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris would have visited the state eight times this year, highlighting its significance to Biden’s re-election prospects.

“It’s challenging to see a path to Biden winning the White House that doesn’t involve Pennsylvania,” noted Daniel Hopkins, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania. No Democrat has won the presidency without carrying the state since Harry Truman in 1948.

Scranton holds personal and political significance for Biden, as he spent his childhood there before moving to Delaware at a young age. Despite Delaware being his political base, he frequently returned to Scranton and rooted his autobiography in the city, earning him the nickname “Pennsylvania’s third senator.”

In 2020, Biden characterized the presidential race as “Scranton versus Park Avenue,” with his re-election team framing this year’s campaign in a similar vein.

The contrast between Biden and Trump, as seen from their differing perspectives and upbringings, is a focal point for Biden’s campaign. Biden’s team sees the economy as a major issue for voters.

Despite the overlap in Pennsylvania between Biden’s campaign and the start of Trump’s criminal trial, Biden’s team believes the contrast between the two is advantageous. Trump’s legal battles are seen as a distraction from the economic issues that Biden is addressing.

While Democrats believe that the economy is doing well under Biden, Republicans argue that costs have increased since Biden took office, impacting families. Trump, in his recent visit to Pennsylvania, criticized Biden’s tax plans and pinned blame on him for various issues.

As the campaign progresses, both candidates are focusing on different aspects to sway voters in their favor in the battle for Pennsylvania and ultimately, the presidency.