Analysis: Can Biden make his case for four more years?
The IndependentSign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The State of the Union is often considered the opening bid in an argument for reelection," said Patrick Gaspard, a former White House political director and top official at the Democratic National Committee. "And in this situation, it’s certainly the case.” Gaspard, who is currently president of the liberal Center for American Progress, said Biden has a strong record since taking office and now needs to demonstrate that he's "a man with a vision for tomorrow.” Biden's allies insist that the president is routinely underestimated, dating back to the 2020 Democratic primaries. “They’re just not mature enough to sit at the table and govern," said Cedric Richmond, a former top White House official who is now a senior adviser to the Democratic National Committee. “At the end of the day, you can’t argue with the extraordinary accomplishments, more than almost any other modern president, that President Biden has achieved, again, under the toughest of circumstances,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a Sunday interview with CNN's “State of the Union.” However, Biden still faces skepticism from the country at large.