President Joe Biden’s advisers were not overly concerned about the impact of a guilty verdict in the Manhattan trial on their 2024 election strategy. However, they did hope that undecided voters could potentially be swayed to prevent former President Trump from returning to the White House. Discussions within the Biden campaign focused on potentially describing Trump as a criminal in their messaging, although they acknowledged that voters prioritize other issues.
Despite the guilty verdict on 34 counts, Biden’s campaign viewed the outcome as positive news only because it was not a loss. The convictions were not expected to significantly impact the election dynamics but were seen as a missed opportunity for Trump, had there been an acquittal. The conviction boosted confidence among Biden supporters that focusing on Trump and the upcoming election would benefit Biden in November, countering the prevailing sense of frustration within the campaign.
While supporters and donors had felt despondent in recent weeks due to the lack of movement in polls and dynamics, the conviction on multiple counts reassured them that Biden’s chances might improve with increased focus on Trump. The echoes of “nothing matters” were combated with the belief that every detail could potentially sway swing voters towards or away from Trump. The reaction to the guilty verdict within the administration emphasized that the outcome did indeed matter and could influence the public’s perception of Trump’s suitability for office.
The response to the guilty verdict from Biden’s camp focused on the importance of voting and keeping Trump out of the Oval Office through the ballot box. While an acquittal would have validated Trump’s claims of persecution, the guilty verdict provided a tangible legal consequence that could influence undecided voters’ decisions. Despite expectations of Trump leveraging the verdict for fundraising and attacking the judgment, some Republican pollsters noted that the conviction could create a new barrier for swing voters hesitant to support a convicted felon.
Biden maintained his focus on the upcoming election, seeking to remind voters of the potential return of Trump as the Republican nominee. Rather than a drastic campaign shift centered on Trump’s legal status, Biden’s team planned to continue highlighting Trump’s threats to democracy in the coming weeks leading up to debates and international engagements. The verdict could serve as a stark reminder to voters of the implications of the potential return of Trump to office, strengthening Biden’s warning about the risks to democracy.
As Biden continued with his daily activities, the reaction from his campaign and White House spokespeople emphasized the respect for the rule of law and a focus on the threat posed by Trump to democracy. While there was no rush for Biden to make a public appearance, his allies saw the verdict as an opportunity to reinforce the reality of Trump’s presidential bid and the importance of voting against him. With upcoming events and speeches centered on defending freedom and democracy, Biden’s campaign aimed to leverage the conviction as a reminder of the stakes in the 2024 election.
