President Joe Biden’s campaign is intensifying efforts to appeal to moderate Republican voters by enlisting the help of a longtime GOP strategist to target a voting bloc that could play a crucial role in his reelection.
Austin Weatherford, a former chief of staff for Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, has been appointed as the National Republican Engagement Director for the Biden-Harris campaign. Weatherford will lead efforts to connect with independent and Republican voters who are dissatisfied with former President Donald Trump.
Kinzinger, who retired from Congress last year, was one of only two Republicans on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He consistently criticized Trump’s false claims of victory in the 2020 election and faced backlash from the Republican National Committee for participating in the investigation into the insurrection.
When contacted by Scripps News, Weatherford declined to comment further on his new role with the campaign.
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Weatherford’s appointment comes as the Biden campaign continues to expand its outreach to Republican voters. As previously reported by Scripps News, the campaign recently engaged with supporters of Nikki Haley after the GOP presidential candidate endorsed Trump. Biden’s reelection team has also launched a significant ad campaign targeting moderate voters by highlighting Trump’s past criticisms of Haley.
“Weatherford’s addition is part of Team Biden-Harris’ strategy to engage and invest in GOP and independent voters, as Donald Trump struggles to retain support from moderates and Nikki Haley supporters,” a campaign official stated.
Democratic groups have also intensified efforts to challenge Trump on his own turf. The Democratic National Committee sponsored a digital billboard near a speaking event by Trump in Phoenix, characterizing the former president as a “convicted felon” – marking the first time the DNC has used that label in a paid advertisement.
Trump’s speech in Arizona, hosted by conservative advocacy group Turning Point Action, is his first campaign event since being convicted of numerous felony counts related to an alleged affair in 2016. Trump has denied the allegations and plans to appeal the conviction.
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In response to the Biden campaign’s efforts, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign rejected the idea that the president is making inroads with GOP and independent voters. The spokesperson emphasized that many Americans view Biden as a weak and ineffective leader with failed policies, contrasting Trump’s strong leadership.
Election results indicate that Trump continues to lose a significant portion of GOP votes to Haley in recent primary contests, even after she withdrew from the race and endorsed him. Haley received a considerable number of votes in swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which Biden won in 2020, making them crucial battlegrounds in the upcoming election.
