WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, 81, is under pressure from his own party to drop out of the reelection race, but he is turning to labor unions to highlight his accomplishments in office over concerns about his age.
Biden is scheduled to meet with the executive council of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of trade unions in America, as he faces scrutiny following his lackluster debate performance against Donald Trump and concurrent activities at the NATO summit in Washington.
The informal and unscripted nature of past executive council meetings indicates that Biden will need to rely on his personal connection with union leaders to solidify their support, as he outlines his future plans and expresses gratitude for their backing.
The AFL-CIO represents 12.5 million union members and despite concerns about Biden’s candidacy, union leaders are standing by him. Some statements of support leave room for flexibility in case Biden decides to step down, emphasizing support for the Biden-Harris administration as a whole.
Wednesday’s meeting is critical for the union movement’s strategy to emphasize Biden’s policy agenda and overcome doubts about his candidacy. Biden’s close relationship with various union leaders is key to connecting with voters at the local level.
Throughout his term, Biden has championed labor unions, emphasizing the role they play in building the middle class. His actions in support of union workers include visiting picket lines, backing unions in disputes, and implementing policies to benefit workers.
Despite attempts by Trump to court union members, Biden’s support among union households was a critical factor in his victory in key states in the 2020 election.
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