President Joe Biden resumed his campaign activities on Tuesday, visiting Nevada to speak at the NAACP national convention, a significant assembly of African American voters. This marked his first political address since the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Following the shooting incident involving Biden's Republican opponent on Saturday, the Biden campaign halted its television advertisements, ceased verbal assaults on the former president, and shifted its focus to promoting unity.
Previously, the campaign strategy centered on harsh criticism of Trump, characterizing him as a danger to American democracy and emphasizing his refusal to acknowledge his defeat in the 2020 election and his legal troubles. Now, the campaign aims to convey a less confrontational message while maintaining a clear contrast.
The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), the most venerable and extensive civil rights organization in the United States, is a crucial demographic for the Democratic Party. Although African Americans overwhelmingly supported Biden in 2020, recent polls indicate a decline in his support among Black voters in the current election. Derrick Johnson, the NAACP president, expressed to Reuters his hope that Biden would outline a plan to assist economically struggling African Americans who fear for their rights.
Johnson mentioned concerns about rising prices and the impact of conservative policy proposals like Project 2025. On Sunday, Biden called on Americans from the White House Oval Office to reduce political tensions and resolve differences peacefully, indicating that the upcoming presidential election on November 5 would be a significant test.
In an NBC News interview, Biden acknowledged that referring to Trump with the term "bullseye" during a recent donor call was inappropriate. He also postponed a trip to Texas where he was scheduled to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library. White House officials speculate that the recent assassination attempt on Trump might alleviate pressure on Biden to withdraw as the Democratic candidate due to concerns about his mental sharpness and physical stamina for another term.
Biden is set to address Latino leaders at the UnidosUS Annual Conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans are convening in Milwaukee for their party's nominating convention, which commenced Monday with the selection of US Senator JD Vance as Trump's running mate.
