Biden’s Extensive Campaign Infrastructure: Pressing Advantage Against Trump in Battleground States

As President Joe Biden prepares for his reelection bid against former President Donald Trump, he’s building an extensive campaign organization in battleground states with a focus on infrastructure and outreach. This stands in contrast to Biden’s 2020 virtual operation due to the pandemic, which is being referred to as “Biden basement” strategy. Campaign director Dan Kanninen declared: “[In] Lots of these states… Razor-thin margins, and I want to press the advantage against Donald Trump. They have not built field infrastructure.” This contrasts with criticism from Republican officials in battleground states that they are behind what Biden is building due to fundraising shortages and internal controversies affecting get-out-the-vote operations in places like Arizona, Michigan, and beyond. The size of the campaign organization is seen as a leading attribute by Democrats who have been privately critical of Biden’s performance so far, but acknowledge that it can help level the playing field against Trump. Kanninen explained: “We want to be wherever you can win… You have to go compete in places that you otherwise might not win.” While traditional campaign offices are back with 133 and counting, including brick-and-mortar locations as well as newer technological infrastructure, safety protocols related to COVID continue being weighed by staff members. Biden’s team is working on a hybrid system of campaigning which combines lessons learned before the pandemic (such as face-to-face contact) with those discovered afterwards, particularly regarding virtual fundraising events and voter engagement strategies in states that lean towards Republican candidates such as Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, where voters narrowly backed Trump by 16 points during the last election.