In a new development, the Biden campaign has unveiled a new ad in battleground states, presenting the upcoming election as a choice between a “convicted criminal” and a president “fighting for your family.” This marks the first time President Joe Biden’s campaign has incorporated Trump’s legal troubles into its television advertising efforts, setting the stage for a major contrast as the two candidates gear up for their first debate on June 27.
Titled “Character Matters,” the campaign’s ad is part of a $50 million ad buy set for June, targeting battleground states and national cable. The 30-second spot features black-and-white images of Trump outside the Manhattan courthouse where he was recently convicted of falsifying business records, contrasting his legal issues with what the campaign touts as Biden’s accomplishments in office.
The narrator in the ad highlights Trump’s criminal record, including 34 felonies, sexual assault allegations, and financial fraud, while praising Biden’s efforts to lower healthcare costs and hold big corporations accountable. The ad emphasizes the choice between a “convicted criminal who is only out for himself” and a president “fighting for your family.”
In response to the ad, Trump’s campaign reiterated its claim that the hush money trial was “election interference” and pointed to polling showing Biden’s message struggling in key battlegrounds. Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, emphasized the contrast between Trump’s “strength and success” and Biden’s “weakness, failures, and dishonesty” ahead of the upcoming debate.
After months of refraining from using Trump’s legal issues in campaign messaging, Biden and his team have shifted gears following Trump’s conviction in New York. The campaign has labeled Trump a “convicted felon” and emphasized the importance of holding all individuals accountable under the law.
With the debate just 10 days away, the ad push seeks to further highlight the differences between the two candidates as they prepare to face off on stage. Biden’s communications director, Michael Tyler, emphasized Trump’s status as a “convicted felon” and his disregard for ethical standards in pursuit of power. The upcoming debate is expected to showcase these stark contrasts between the candidates as they make their case to the American public.
