Israel-Hamas War Puts Biden’s Economic Pitch on the Back Burner 

Joe Biden’s White House had planned to spend these weeks selling his economic agenda to voters.

Then a war broke out between Israel and Hamas.

The brutal violence in the Middle East, and the impact it has had on Biden’s domestic messaging, underscores how the focus of a presidential reelection bid is often directed by unexpected moments that demand a commander-in-chief’s attention, even if that means overshadowing previously laid plans.

That was clear on Monday when Biden’s White House announced – at the last minute – that the president would not travel to Colorado and instead would stay in Washington to ​​participate in national security meetings as the U.S. continues to navigate the aftermath of Hamas' surprise attack on Israel. By Monday evening, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Biden would visit Israel on Wednesday.

Biden had planned to visit CS Wind, the world's largest tower production facility, Pueblo, Colo., on Monday for an event that the White House said would “highlight how Bidenomics is driving record investments” in Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert’s district.

The event would have highlighted Biden’s split-screen strategy: Promote his own legislative achievement by attacking a Republican that Democrats love to castigate. Boebert had called the Inflation Reduction Act, the law that brought investment in CS Wind, “dangerous for America” and a “massive failure.”

But the conflict in Israel has dominated Biden’s focus of late. The president has spent considerable time on the phone with world leaders, including five calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, since the violence broke out.

His top advisers, from Blinken to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, have traveled throughout the region. And ahead of his Wednesday trip, Biden has addressed the conflict at numerous events – including those organized around unrelated topics – firmly planting the U.S. behind Israel.

While this has put “Bidenomics” – a message the White House has been pushing for the better part of four months – on the back burner for the time being, it isn’t a shift that top Biden aides and Democrats are worried about. Biden is far from a foreign policy neophyte – he chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and was largely tapped to be former President Barack Obama’s running mate because of his foreign policy prowess.

“That’s the nature of the presidency,” said Eric Schultz, a former top aide to Obama. “So much of what a president has to contend with isn’t foreseeable in advance. But whether it’s uniting the global community in support of Ukraine or offering our resolute support to Israel, Joe Biden is rising to the occasion.” 

Juggling multiple issues

On the heels of the attacks in Israel, Biden continued to hold events centered on domestic policy, including one speech on Bidenomics in Philadelphia late last week and another event which highlighted protecting consumers from hidden junk fees. 

During a press briefing last week, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said Biden “has to do multiple things at once.” 

“He’s going to continue to talk about Bidenomics. He’s going to continue to talk about what he’s doing … to bring back manufacturing, to create … good paying jobs,” Jean-Pierre said. “That’s something that Americans also want to hear from.” 

“The president … has been engaged in the situation that we’re currently seeing– the horrific situation that we’re seeing in Israel,” Jean Pierre added. “That’s what he’s going to continue to do. 

Democrats have urged Biden to talk more about the economy, touting his record of job growth and improving economic metrics. But the president’s sales job has largely failed to move the public’s view of his job performance.

Polls show most voters are skeptical of Biden’s role in regrowing a down economy. A recent national Marquette Law School poll found that 52% of voters favored former President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, compared to 28% for Biden.

To some Democrats, the temporary pivot – required or not – from an economic message to one focused on foreign policy fits Biden’s positioning as an elder statesman, someone whose age may be a concern to some voters, but who has gained considerable experience during his time in politics.

Jamal Simmons, a former top adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, said this focus also fit into Biden’s messaging about being a “wise leader” who is familiar with the issues facing the globe.

“He has to stand by America's allies as well as tamp down any escalation by adversaries. So it would make sense for practical policy purposes and for messaging purposes for the president to stay at the White House and stay focused on this Middle East conflict,” Simmons said.

Another top Democratic official put it bluntly: “Joe Biden statesman is a winning brand. Bidenomics hasn't found its market. It's still seeking its market power.”

Will foreign policy be top voter concern? 

So far, the public’s views of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war largely reflects his overall approval rating: An ABC News/Ipsos poll found 41% of Americans approve of Biden’s handling of conflict, while 54% disapprove. 

Foreign policy is typically not top of mind for voters at the ballot box. A series of polls ahead of the 2024 election have found a tiny percent of voters cite foreign policy as their top concern in the election.

But for Biden, the Middle East crisis is about more than just foreign policy. From a political standpoint, It’s also about striking a contrast with Trump, his likely general election opponent, who has recently criticized Israeli leaders and said Hezbollah, a terrorist organization based north of Israel in Lebanon, was “very smart.”

“Voters don’t go to the polls for foreign policy, but opportunities to show leadership on the world stage can help Biden in a split screen between him, Trump, and House Republicans,” said Basil Smikle, a Democratic operative. “But he’ll need to move back to the economy as soon as possible so as not to give the impression he’s neglecting local interests.”