Biden Heads to South Carolina to Present His Financial Agenda Is Holding Even Pink States Buzzing

By Aamer Madhani and Meg Kinnard

Forward of Biden’s go to to a state that he misplaced by practically 12 proportion factors in 2020, White Home officers argued that if Republicans had their means, South Carolina, like many different Republican-controlled states, would have misplaced out on billions of {dollars} in investments and hundreds of jobs.

Biden will use his go to to showcase a brand new clear power manufacturing partnership between photo voltaic agency Enphase Vitality and producer Flex Ltd. that’s projected to create 600 jobs within the state and 1,200 extra all through the nation.

The White Home on Wednesday castigated Republicans for voting in opposition to the laws and subsequent efforts to claw again tax incentives included within the invoice.

“Republicans in Congress, together with each Republican consultant from South Carolina, wish to threaten these investments, jobs and financial alternatives by repealing — repealing the Inflation Discount Act, which really helps the American individuals,” White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned. “However because the president mentioned in his first inauguration, he’s the president for all Individuals. It doesn’t matter when you’re in a purple state or a blue state.”

The White Home additionally took be aware of one other South Carolina Republican, Rep. Nancy Mace, congratulating the Charleston Space Regional Transportation Authority for profitable practically $26 million to construct and restore clear power transportation initiatives beneath the $1 trillion infrastructure laws. She voted in opposition to the invoice.

“By exhibiting up in a purple state and making the case for the way even those that aren’t going to vote for him have benefitted from his insurance policies, Biden is beginning to clarify the true alternative for that small universe of swing voters,” mentioned Josh Freed, who heads the local weather and power program on the center-left group Third Manner.

Biden has seen his public approval ranking — and public sentiment about his dealing with of the financial system — dragged down by cussed inflation that hit a 40-year excessive final summer time.

“What’s ‘Bidenomics’? It’s the inflationary Washington spending, pricey laws, and regressive taxes touted by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, chairman of the Senate Republican Convention, wrote in a memo on Wednesday. “These insurance policies are making on a regular basis necessities costlier, hollowing out household financial savings and driving rates of interest greater.”

Non-public corporations have dedicated greater than $500 billion in funding in manufacturing all through the nation since Biden took workplace. South Carolina, which has a 3.1% unemployment fee, has seen $11 billion in new funding in manufacturing and clear power for the reason that begin of the Biden administration, based on a White Home tally.

However the state has lengthy been a spot of private and political significance to Biden: Kiawah Island, close to Charleston, has been the location of household holidays, in addition to decision-making within the run-up to his presidential campaigns.

The get together’s nationwide prominence has risen — most not too long ago when the Democratic Nationwide Committee made South Carolina the primary voting state on its 2024 presidential major calendar.

South Carolina Democratic Social gathering Chairwoman Christale Spain mentioned that Biden, by making his pitch within the state, is making good on his pledge to be a president for all Individuals, not simply those that supported his marketing campaign.

“The president has all the time made South Carolina a precedence, and we’re right here to help him and we’re enthusiastic about mobilizing voters for his reelection,” Spain mentioned throughout a convention name with reporters.

Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C.