President Joe Biden traveled to Las Vegas to connect with Black and Latino voters during a two-day visit. Rep. Steven Horsford from Nevada, who is the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, joined Biden at an event in North Las Vegas. This show of support from Horsford is significant, especially since other high-profile Democrats avoided attending a rally with the president in Michigan recently.
Horsford has been a strong advocate for Biden, standing by him when others have expressed doubts about his candidacy. He emphasized that Biden was chosen by the voters of Nevada and criticized the criticism against the president as “ageism and ableism.” The event they attended was organized by the Vote to Live Action Fund, a group focused on mobilizing Black voters. The goal was to rally support among Black and Latino voters, key demographics for Biden’s coalition, who may not be as enthusiastic this time around.
Despite facing a competitive race himself, Horsford’s decision to stand with Biden contrasts with other Democrats who have been hesitant to do so. In Detroit, prominent figures like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Gary Peters chose not to attend a rally with the president. In Wisconsin, Senator Tammy Baldwin also skipped an event with Biden.
The visit to Nevada included a speech at the NAACP National Convention and a focus on engaging Latino voters. Biden highlighted the drop in the Latino uninsured rate and the growth of investments in Latino small businesses during his administration. This outreach to different communities is part of a larger campaign strategy to showcase Biden in more unscripted settings, particularly in swing states, to address concerns about his age and cognitive abilities.
While some Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to step down, none of the five Democrats from Nevada have done so. This indicates that there is still support for the president within the party, especially in key states like Nevada. Overall, Biden’s visit to Las Vegas was part of a concerted effort to connect with voters from diverse backgrounds and address any reservations they may have about his candidacy.
