Biden, Harris highlight abortion in first joint campaign appearance

MANASSAS, Va. (CN) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made clear Tuesday that abortion access will be a central component of their reelection campaign.

The duo held their first joint campaign event in Northern Virginia as Republican voters hit the polls in New Hampshire.

The gathering marked the formal start of Biden’s reelection bid and loudly displayed that abortion is a key focus of the campaign. Biden and Harris delivered remarks in front of a large banner emblazoned with “Restore Roe.”

The Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling in June 2022, essentially returning the issue of abortion to the states.

“The Dobbs decision practically dared women to be heard,” Biden said. “I don’t think this court and the MAGA Republicans have any clue about the power of women in America … but they’re about to find out.”

Biden and Harris pointed the finger directly at former President Donald Trump, the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

Harris said Trump “hand-picked three Supreme Court justices” because “he intended for them to overturn Roe.”

“He intended for them to take your freedoms,” she said. “He is the architect of this health care crisis.”

Harris tried to appeal to voters who oppose abortion on religious grounds.

“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body,” she said.

Biden said “extremists” in Congress are proposing a national abortion ban and promised to veto any such legislation.

Biden urged voters to expand the Democratic majority in the Senate and flip control of the House of Representatives so he could codify the protections from Roe in a second term. Democrats had such a filibuster-proof control of both houses of Congress and the presidency during the first two years of former President Barack Obama’s first term, but did not take any such action.

While other issues have come to the forefront, like inflation and Biden’s foreign policy goals, the president said voters should remain focused on abortion access.

“Donald Trump is betting you won’t vote on this issue,” he said. “He’s betting you’re going to stop caring, that you’ll get distracted and discouraged and stay home. Well guess what? I’m betting he’s wrong. I’m betting you won’t forget. I’m betting you won’t stop caring.”

The event didn’t run smoothly as Biden was interrupted several times by protestors supporting the people of Palestine, something happening with growing regularity at his public events. The protestors called Biden “Genocide Joe,” demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and criticized Biden’s full-throated support of Israel’s military operation. The protestors, dozens of whom were gathered outside the event, were frequently drowned out by chants of “four more years.”

Biden’s only acknowledgement of the protestors was to say “they feel deeply,” “this is going to go on a while,” “we’ve got a couple more of these,” “they’ve got this planned” and “I’m sorry this is taking so long.” He characterized one protestor, whom he called “the woman hollering,” as a “MAGA Republican.”

Biden started his remarks by saying “Hello Virginia and the real Governor Terry McAuliffe.” McAuliffe served as the state’s governor for a mandated single term from 2014 to 2018. He sought to return to the office in 2021, but lost to current Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Courthouse News was denied access to the event by Biden’s campaign staff.

Trump has all but sealed the Republican nomination, coming out ahead in the Iowa caucus. His only remaining challenger is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who faces a steep hill to win the nomination.

As the election looms, Trump has a slight edge in head-to-head polling at 47.2% to Biden’s 44.3%.

Some recent polls have taken a wider breadth of candidates into consideration. Aside from Trump and Biden, these polls include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, who are mounting independent runs, former Penthouse magazine owner Lars Mapstead for the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein for the Green Party.

In an average of those polls, Trump has 37%, Biden is at 33%, Kennedy at 8.7%, West has 2.3% and Mapstead and Stein stand at 1.3% each.

The Libertarians received ballot access in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the past two presidential elections, while the Green party has not appeared in all states so far. Kennedy has only gained access in Utah and West has only been placed on Alaska’sballot.

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