In a strategic move to bolster President Joe Biden's appeal to veterans and military families, First Lady Jill Biden has embarked on a campaign tour through key battleground states.
This initiative is seen as a countermeasure to the growing clamor for the Democratic incumbent to abandon his reelection bid following a less-than-stellar debate performance against Donald Trump.
According to ABC News, the First Lady is set to announce the establishment of 'Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris' during her stops in Wilmington, North Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Columbus, Georgia. These states are home to a significant number of veterans and military families. This initiative is part of a larger strategy by the Biden campaign to recover from the President's faltering performance in the recent debate, which has led some House Democrats and others to question his ability to defeat Trump in the upcoming election.
Despite the criticism, Biden has remained resolute, insisting during public appearances since the June 27 debate that he will continue his campaign. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, his campaign manager, stated that the new group aims to engage and mobilize millions of veterans and military families in the U.S. to vote for the President's reelection. "Our veterans and military families are the brave and the bold, who step forward for all of us," she said. "They deserve a commander in chief who respects their bravery and understands personally their sacrifice, not one who denigrates them for being willing to put their lives on the line for our democracy.
Rodriguez's comments were a clear reference to reports that Trump, during a 2018 trip to France, disparaged service members who had made the ultimate sacrifice, referring to them as suckers and losers. Trump has denied making these comments.
The issue of respect for veterans became a contentious point during the debate between Biden and Trump. Biden highlighted his recent visit to an American military cemetery in France, the final resting place for U.S. soldiers who fought in World War I, a visit Trump notably skipped during his 2018 trip. Trump, on the other hand, accused Biden of prioritizing migrants over veterans and service members, and criticized him for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
The Biden campaign countered these accusations by pointing out the President's efforts to expand benefits for veterans affected by toxic exposures, develop a strategy to reduce veteran suicide, increase support for caregivers, and allocate more than $1 billion in 2023 to support homeless veterans.
In addition to her campaign efforts, Jill Biden also leads a White House initiative named Joining Forces, which aims to assist military spouses in securing and retaining federal government jobs, make child care more affordable and accessible for military families, and support those who care for veterans.
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