President Biden and first lady Jill Biden travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday to kick off their July voter outreach efforts amid the fallout from the president’s weak debate performance and concerns from Democrats.
Biden is scheduled to speak at a church service northwest of Philadelphia before heading to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for an event attracting union members and local Democrats, his campaign said.
He will be joined by Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Pennsylvania Democratic senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker (D-PA) and other local leaders.
The Pennsylvania visit follows Biden’s trip to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday, part of a campaign push targeting key battleground states.
The president has faced growing criticism since the debate, with some arguing he should step down so someone else can take on former President Trump.
Since his on-camera interview in Wisconsin on Friday, Biden has yet to win over voters who worry he doesn’t have what it takes to beat Trump this fall.
The visit to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin is part of the Democratic Party’s “aggressive July voter outreach campaign,” the campaign said.
The Bidens, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, are set to travel extensively to key battleground states this month.
The travel plans come as voters question whether the 81-year-old president is mentally and physically fit to continue campaigning, or even serve another four years. Biden has dismissed questions about his age in recent interviews.
Plans for the coming weeks also include a $50 million media campaign and a public relations campaign to knock on 3 million doors.
“While MAGA’s hate and extremism will be on full display at the Republican National Convention, the Biden-Harris team will focus on critical outreach to the diverse coalition that will win the election,” the campaign said in an email.
The trip marks Biden’s 10th trip to the Keystone State this election cycle, which he won by 82,000 votes in 2020.
According to The Hill/Decision Desk headquarters, Trump has a 57% chance of winning Pennsylvania this time.
