Joe Biden lands in Brunswick on 1st Maine go to of his presidency
President Joe Biden landed on the Brunswick Government Airport round midday Friday, kicking off the primary go to to Maine throughout his tenure.
He’ll board Marine One, his helicopter, to provide a speech on financial coverage at Auburn Manufacturing and signal an govt order aimed toward boosting home manufacturing of products invented within the U.S. After that, he’ll attend a marketing campaign fundraiser in Freeport.
The go to to Maine is a part of the Democratic president’s efforts to tout manufacturing beneficial properties throughout his presidency, together with 800,000 new jobs within the sector. Manufacturing jobs have truly dipped right here over the previous 12 months, though wages are up and the White Home has mentioned Auburn Manufacturing will cite double-digit progress partially resulting from current federal insurance policies.
Auburn has not hosted a presidential go to in additional than 100 years. The situation is critical as a result of it’s considered one of Maine’s largest swing cities, that includes many Republican elected officers and voting for former President Donald Trump in 2016 earlier than switching to Biden in 2020.
It’s in one of many main inhabitants facilities of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, which was gained twice by Trump and is represented by Rep. Jared Golden, a centrist Democrat from Lewiston who often criticizes the president.
Golden traveled with Biden on Air Pressure One on Friday together with Sen. Angus King, an impartial who caucuses with Democrats, and Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat from the first District.
The go to carries political significance given the potential Trump-Biden rematch in 2024. Biden gained the state of Maine by 9 share factors in 2020, although Trump took the 2nd District by greater than 7 factors in a break up with Golden, who has relied on cross-party assist in his wins.
The president is struggling politically along with his nationwide approval score sitting within the low 40s. He’s solely doing somewhat higher in Maine, the place he limped to 47 p.c approval in an April ballot by the College of New Hampshire. Biden’s saving grace could also be Trump’s low favorability as he faces unprecedented legal fees however stays the favourite for the Republican nod in 2024.
BDN author Jules Walkup contributed to this report.
