Washington Wednesday - Biden’s first year

MARY REICHARD, HOST: It’s Wednesday the 19th of January, 2022.

This is The World and Everything in It and we’re glad you’ve joined us today. Good morning, I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Up first, President Biden’s first year in the Oval Office.

Tomorrow will mark one year exactly since the president took the oath of office and it has been a tumultuous 12 months. Biden has faced major challenges beyond his control, as well as some of his own making.

Either way, his sagging poll numbers could spell trouble for his party in an election year. The current Real Clear Politics average of recent polls has President Biden’s approval below 42 percent.

That creates a difficult political climate for Democratic candidates ahead of the midterms.

REICHARD: So what is the White House’s strategy to turn around its political fortunes? And how will Democratic candidates deal with those political headwinds?

We thought it would be helpful to get the perspective of someone whose job it is to help Democrats do that. Kristal Knight is a Democratic political strategist and we will give her her say. By way of background, she has served as political director for a major super PAC and for House and Senate candidates. And back in 2016, she worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Krystal, good morning!

KRYSTAL KNIGHT, GUEST: Good morning. Thank you for having me.

REICHARD: Everyone, left or right, will have their own take on how well President Biden performed in his first year. We’re not trying to grade his governance today.

We’re talking about the politics of it … And of course we know that in politics, perception is reality. So through that lens, what do you think was the smartest political move President Biden made in his first 12 months?

KNIGHT: Wow, that’s a really great question and an opening question. I think one of the things the president was able to accomplish in his first year that the Democratic Party really should tout is his handling of the COVID pandemic. We are approaching the anniversary of year three of this pandemic, and it has ravaged across this country in nearly every single sector. And so with the President, you know, rolling out the vaccine, making the booster shots available, increasing the amount of testing sites, also rolling out at home testing kits for many Americans and children who are reentering schools, that is something that needed to be handled immediately. And we have to give the president credit for how he has instituted a taskforce that would immediately begin tackling COVID day one of his administration

REICHARD: And then what do you think was the president’s biggest political misstep?

KNIGHT: Well, I think the Afghanistan pull-out. I don't think anyone has any issues with pointing to that. He is continuing to get hit on that time and time again across a number of different media platforms—not just conservative media, but also liberal media. You know, he stated that he was committed to making sure that American troops were brought back home, but it seems that the actual logistics of the pullout were not squared away. And quite frankly, just for lack of better terms, it was a mess. And that is something that he will have to live with throughout his presidency.

REICHARD: Krystal, suppose you were advising President Biden politically. What would you urge him to do to help put Democratic candidates in purple states or districts in the best position to win?

KNIGHT: Well, I think understanding your district is really important. And you know, it's helpful when the President has federal legislative wins that down-ballot candidates and even federal candidates can campaign on. But also understanding what's happening in the respective districts and where can Democrats move the needle? Where can they move the messaging to make sure that independent voters or voters who lean Republican are able to understand how a Democratic agenda can help them in their respective district. I think that that's the advice that I would give him. A lot of times people vote with their pocketbook. They vote on economic issues, things that they can feel immediately right now. And so if candidates are equipped with legislative wins that have happened federally, and things that they've done in their own respective districts, then we should be able to see some movement in many of these rural or purple or swing counties, districts, states that you're speaking of.

REICHARD: And what would be an example, just concretely speaking now, of a Democratic policy that might attract those rural or otherwise right-leaning areas?

KNIGHT: Sure. So, one of the things is the child tax credits, which expired at the end of last year. That's something that is not a partisan issue. That helps every single American regardless of if you're a Democrat, Independent, Republican. Regardless of where you live. If you have children, and you are given a child tax credit to help with whatever the needs are, that your unique family is faced with that's something that is a win for all American families. And that's something that Democrats and, quite frankly, Republicans should be talking about to voters in their district.

REICHARD: Four years ago, Democrats looked to tie Republicans to the president. We’re going to see the same thing this year in reverse.

Do Democratic candidates — again in purple states or districts — have to distance themselves a little bit from the president right now? How do you manage when the sitting president is underwater with his approval?

KNIGHT: Yeah, I don't think that the Democratic candidates in purple and swing districts have to distance themselves right now. The President has already had some wins—6.4 million jobs have been created in the first year. Again, child poverty has reduced because of the child tax credits, and people are going back to work. We are in a window right now; we're in a unique legislative window where the President still has time to bring about some wins. Also the infrastructure bill, which was bipartisan. That's something that many of these candidates can campaign on.

REICHARD: Final question, here, Krystal, if you’re advising Democratic candidates in a purple state or district, how do they appeal to both the Democratic base and to moderate and independent voters?

KNIGHT: That's tough, just to be quite honest with you. I don't think that there's an easy manuscript on how do you talk to your base and talk to moderates. I believe that it is a district by district, state by state issue that candidates will have to tackle. You have to understand what is motivating to your base. And how do you speak to some of the fears that your more moderate or undecided voters are thinking about? And what will your candidacy do to help them understand or help them feel that you being in office, you being an elected official is helping their economic situation, it's helping their personal, you know, livelihood, because of elected office. Because plenty of people can affect change. I say this all the time. Plenty of people can affect change without being an elected official. So if you're running for office, and you're trying to convince people who tend not to lean towards you, and continue to keep your base motivated, there's a sweet spot in the middle there, which is the why and the how. And that's what candidates have to really nail down on and understand their districts—knocking on doors, talking to voters, and really understanding how they can implement the change that's needed for the moderates, but also continuing the progress that's needed for their base.

REICHARD: Political strategist Krystal Knight has been our guest today. Krystal, thanks so much!

KNIGHT: Thank you for having me.

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