Young Democratic voters are sounding the alarm on President Biden, warning that his reelection could be in jeopardy if he doesn’t change course on the issues that matter most to them, such as the war in Gaza.
They have soured on Mr. Biden on issues ranging from the cost of living to the climate, but a surge in protests on college campuses across the country is the latest point of contention with the president.
“If he decides to roll the dice and assumes that Gaza is not his top priority right now, he will lose the election,” said Gen Z for Change (formerly operating under the name ) Executive Director Elise Joshi said. Biden’s TikTok.
Joshi added that concerns about the president have “accelerated” over the past six months.
The Gaza crisis has been a turning point for many young voters, with some polls showing support for Biden eroding.
Biden’s approval rating among voters ages 18 to 29 has fallen to 45% from about 60% in 2020, according to last month’s Harvard Youth Poll.
A CNN poll last weekend also showed that Biden was trailing Trump by 11 points in a head-to-head race among young voters.
Some say Mr. Biden is failing to address some of the issues most important to young voters.
“I don’t think the president is meeting enough young voters right now,” said Kidus Girma, campaign director for the Sunrise Movement, a political action group that advocates for action on climate change. “We are paying attention.”
Mr. Girma said it is “in the president’s interest to run on a progressive mission” by speaking to those voters.
As for the Gaza issue, he said that would depend on Biden’s approach in the coming months.
“It is important that President Biden recognizes the voices of young people calling for peace in Gaza,” Girma said. “Americans want an end to unconditional military aid and a permanent ceasefire. The quickest way to end unrest on college campuses is through the voices of the vast majority of Americans and young students fighting for what’s right.” to listen.”
On Thursday, Biden criticized recent protests on college campuses, condemning vandalism and trespassing, adding that protesters at Columbia University and other campuses have the right to demonstrate peacefully.
“In moments like this, there are always those who rush to score political points,” the president said in a speech at the White House. “But this is not the time for politics. This is a moment for clarity. So let me be clear…violent protests will not be protected. Peaceful protests.”
“Destruction of property is not peaceful protest and is a violation of the law,” Biden added. “Vandalism, trespassing, broken windows, campus closures, and forced cancellations of classes and graduations. None of these are peaceful protests; they are attempts to intimidate and intimidate people.
“Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must not lead to anarchy,” he added.
Joshi, director of Gen Z for Change, slammed Biden’s comments, calling them “disgraceful.”
Joshi said: “Police are tear gassing us, shooting us, beating students, especially when they know they got elected because of Black Lives Matter. It is absolutely shameful to portray this as a target.”
Aides who worked on Biden’s 2020 campaign said the president’s comments reflected the overwhelming public view of the protests.
Biden campaign aides said they are running a “robust” campaign to attract young voters and drive them into the campaign column. Campaign aides said they started youth outreach earlier than in previous cycles.
Since launching the campaign, they have also run digital ads targeting younger voters, including a current $30 million ad campaign.
The campaign is also relying on surrogates, including social media influencers, to continue highlighting the administration’s policy wins, and will separately help reach students across campus in March. Launched a national organizing program, “Students for biden-Harris.”
Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, said the Biden administration has been proactive about demographics.
“This is the first time that not only have we invited young people to the White House, but they have actively listened to what we have to say,” said Mayer, who has met numerous times with government officials on issues such as gun violence prevention and climate issues. government,” he said. “They see young people as governing partners.”
Regarding the protests at the university, he said the protests were not directed at the administration, but at the university’s leadership.
Matt Das, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy, who also served as a foreign policy adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (R-Vt.), said the Biden administration is “the most progressive administration of my lifetime.” He said he was strengthening the government. Issues that matter to young voters, such as student loan relief.
Still, regarding the administration’s response to the Gaza crisis, he said, “I don’t want to say that this will cancel out the crisis, but it casts a shadow in the minds of some young people and in the minds of some older people.” “It’s resonating in a profound way that tends to be true.” — all the good things he’s done. ”
Given the choice between Biden and former President Trump, he predicted that many young voters protesting the administration’s inaction in Gaza would return to Biden during the campaign.
But he warned that Biden’s handling of the situation in Gaza would be a “hindrance” to his re-election bid.
“It’s impossible to say how big of an impact it will have, but in a close election, even a narrow margin that hurts him could make a difference,” Das said.
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