What's behind Biden's Latino voter problem?

The power players, latest policy developments, and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing.

Aug 14, 2023 View in browser   By Lawrence Ukenye, Eli Stokols and Lauren Egan Welcome to POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. With help from producer Raymond Rapada Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Eli | Email Lauren JOE BIDEN’s campaign knows it needs to do a better job reaching Hispanic and Latino voters, with some polls showing a precipitous drop in support for the president among this cohort. But grassroots organizers don’t think the problem is Biden himself. CRISTÓBAL ALEX, a former senior campaign adviser and deputy Cabinet secretary, said a broader array of forces are contributing to the president’s poor numbers. The way to improve the situation, he argued, would be to emphasize factors like the economy. “Some of the gains that Trump made were because of concerns about Covid and an economic downturn,” said Alex, founding president of the Latino Victory Fund. Hispanic voters’ perception of the post-pandemic economy and persisting inflation are what he attributes to the decline in support for Biden, Alex said: The health and economic impacts of the pandemic hit Latinos at a disproportionately high level, and many Latinos are still trying to recover. The administration has hit the road in recent weeks to tout its “Bidenomics” message. For Biden’s team, the hope is that the push helps shore up the president’s standing with Hispanic and Latino voters, especially in swing states like Arizona and Wisconsin. “I do think that most voters right now are not paying attention to what's happening politically,” MARÍA TERESA KUMAR, CEO of Voto Latino, a group working to mobilize turnout, told West Wing Playbook. “They are paying attention to how much their gas costs and how much their eggs cost and their milk costs.” Alex believes Biden world is aware of the ground it needs to make up, which is why they tapped JULIE CHÁVEZ RODRÍGUEZ — a high-profile Latina with substantial campaign and White House experience — to serve as campaign manager. “We’re in the first inning of a baseball game and the president has already hit a home run by choosing Julie Chávez Rodríguez,” he said. But her hiring has also been muddled with missteps earlier. The campaign put out a Spanish-language page on the website that was rife with translation errors, a mistake that typically trips up campaigns early as they try to connect with a bilingual electorate. A spokesperson for the DNC emphasized that many of its efforts to grow Latino outreach prior to the midterms are being strengthened in anticipation for 2024. The DNC launched a “historic” seven-figure Spanish-language ad buy in 2022 and has since hosted training sessions to help organizers as part of its Adelante program targeting voters in person and online. Website kinks may ultimately be forgotten, overshadowed by other matters, like support from key Hispanic lawmakers, including Rep. VERONICA ESCOBAR (D-Texas), one of the reelection campaign’s co-chairs, and an effective message prioritizing Latino voters. Selling economic progress is front of mind. It may include speeches at manufacturing plants like Biden has done so far, but also targeted outreach that showcases representation and results. For example, Kumar and Alex believe ISABELLA CASILLAS GUZMAN — who heads the Small Business Administration and is traveling to Florida, Kansas and California this week to tout the Inflation Reduction Act — could use her role to highlight the growth in Latino businesses nationwide. “President Biden promised to be a president for all Americans, and to rebuild the American middle class, and that’s exactly what he’s doing, delivering for Latino families across the country, including lowering the Latino unemployment rate, expanding access to capital for Latino small business owners, and lowering drug prices for Latino seniors,” a White House spokesperson told West Wing Playbook. The spokesperson also noted "diverse and creative ways" the White House has engaged the community, including inviting Latino local radio stations to broadcast from the White House and hosting regular briefings with key Latino stakeholders and Latino reporters in Spanish. And while Republicans seem poised to use immigration and border control as a cudgel against Biden, organizers see an opportunity to highlight the contrasts between both parties on those issues. “If you ask the Latino voter point blank, is immigration a top issue for them, they'll say no,” Kumar said. “But if you say ‘Is safeguarding your father who’s the farm worker or your mother who is a hotel worker out of the shadows into a pathway of being part of the system permanently?’ that becomes a top three issue.” MESSAGE US — Are you ALEJANDRO MOLINA, senior policy adviser on the National Economic Council? We want to hear from you. And we’ll keep you anonymous! Email us at westwingtips@politico.com. Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe here!    GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.     POTUS PUZZLER Thanks to the White House Historical Association for this question! Which first lady ordered the famous "Lansdowne portrait" of GEORGE WASHINGTON to be saved during the British invasion of 1814? (Answer at bottom.) The Oval MISSING THE MARK ON MAUI: For a president known for his empathy, the past 24 hours have seemed out of character. Biden ignored a question from the pool Sunday asking for his reaction to the devastating Maui wildfires that have killed nearly 100 people and destroyed homes and landmarks along the historic Lahaina coast. Sunday’s print pooler, ROB CRILLY of the Daily Mail, reported that the president, passing by the pool while leaving the beach, “stopped when he heard a question asking 'any comment on the rising death toll in Maui.'” Biden, Crilly continued, “appeared to say 'no ... No comment' according to lip readers in the pool but could not be heard.” The “no comment” didn’t go unnoticed. KANIELA ING, a former state lawmaker from Maui, blasted Biden in a tweet. “I campaigned for you. Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbors. This?” he wrote in a tweet that he later deleted, explaining that the pool report wasn’t definitive but urging Biden to declare climate change a national emergency. Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE opened Monday’s briefing with a lengthy recitation of the president’s actions in response to the fire — calls, briefings — and the federal response led by FEMA. Biden, she said, is “praying for families who are grieving for their loved ones” and “continues to stay closely engaged” with federal and local government officials about the ongoing response. Jean-Pierre then ceded the podium to FEMA Administrator DEANNE CRISWELL, who briefed reporters via teleconference from Hawaii. “I have been in continuous communication with the president since these fires started,” she said. Pressed on whether Biden would speak soon about what is now the worst wildfire in a century, Jean-Pierre told reporters they “can expect to hear from the president” soon. As she fielded several such questions, deputy press secretary ANDREW BATES tweeted out Biden’s last (and only) public remarks on the fires from last Thursday. We’re mere newsletter scribes, but we would be quite surprised if the White House doesn’t pick up the level of engagement on this one. LET’S GET THIS DONE, PLEASE: Biden called on Detroit’s major three automakers and United Auto Workers to come to an agreement needed to avoid a strike, our OLIVIA OLANDER reports. The administration is desperate for both sides to reach a deal before the existing contract expires a month from Monday. Concerns remain over the workers’ transition to an industry dominated by electric vehicles and union leaders, including from UAW president SHAWN FAIN who called on the president to use his “bully pulpit” to advocate for stronger labor provisions. “The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class," Biden said in a statement. “The need to transition to a clean energy economy should provide a win‑win opportunity for auto companies and unionized workers.” WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This piece by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s JONATHAN SALANT about how Biden’s three major pieces of legislation have helped improve the economy in Pittsburgh, which the White House designated as a workforce hub earlier this year. The Inflation Reduction Act will aid local coal-dependent residents transition to new forms of energy, while also providing $1 million for the city to reduce greenhouse emissions. Deputy communications director JENNIFER MOLINA tweeted the piece. WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: This LA Times column by GEORGE SKELTON calling it a “great idea” for Sen. DIANNE FEINSTEIN to retire so that California Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM could appoint Vice President KAMALA HARRIS to fill her seat. Biden would then be freed up to pick a more popular running mate, he argues. “It’ll never happen because it would take all of the president’s persuasive and coercive powers to pull off. And he doesn’t seem the type likely to do that,” Skelton writes, acknowledging the unlikely premise. “Biden would need to admit that he erred in choosing Harris in the first place,” he continues. We agree with Skelton. It will never happen. THE BUREAUCRATS MORE CAMPAIGN HIRES: ALANA MOUNCE, who has been the deputy political director in the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach at the White House, is moving to Biden’s reelection campaign to serve as ballot access director, the campaign announced Monday. Additionally, VAROON MODAK is leaving his job as counsel at Elias Law Group to serve as the campaign’s senior counsel for ballot access. MICHAEL KIKUKAWA HARDEST HIT: We’re starting to sense a pattern here with CNN’s chief White House correspondents getting promoted to jobs anchoring the network’s morning show. West Wing Playbook friend PHIL MATTINGLY was named Monday as the new co-anchor of “CNN Mornings,” following in the footsteps of his predecessor KAITLAN COLLINS, who moved to New York last year to re-launch that morning show and now anchors CNN’s 9 p.m. hour. It must be weird for Phil, having a more successful season ending than the Ohio State football team. But with a jawline like that, we all knew this was only a matter of time. THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR: CNN anchor WOLF BLITZER had dinner Sunday night at Cafe Milano with RAHM EMANUEL, the U.S. ambassador to Japan. The two bumped into DIONNE WARWICK and snapped a pic (menswear sponsored, we assume, by Untuckit). Agenda Setting A ‘PAINFUL’ MILESTONE: Interim officers now hold three of the eight positions on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Adm. LISA FRANCHETTI assumed the acting role of chief of naval operations on Monday, our PAUL McLEARY and LARA SELIGMAN report. Franchetti was set to replace departing Adm. MIKE GILDAY, but Sen. TOMMY TUBERVILLE’s (R-Ala.) monthslong hold on military promotions scuttled plans for a historic ceremony to mark the first woman named to the Joint Chiefs. “This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe,” Secretary of Defense LLOYD AUSTIN said. “This sweeping hold is undermining America’s military readiness." STRENGTHENING THEIR PARTNERSHIP: Biden plans to emphasize countering China and North Korea in his first-ever Camp David summit with South Korean President YOON SUK YEOL and Japanese Prime Minister FUMIO KISHIDA, the Wall Street Journal’s ALASTAIR GALE and TIMOTHY MARTIN report. The visit comes as Seoul and Tokyo have strengthened relations since the beginning of Biden’s term, when both governments were barely on speaking terms, the pair writes. What We're Reading The Biden-Trump Rematch That Nobody Wants (NYT’s Lisa Lerer and Reid Epstein) Louis DeJoy: From Trump villain to Biden’s clean energy buddy (POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs) After End of Pandemic Coverage Guarantee, Texas Is Epicenter of Medicaid Losses (NYT's Noah Weiland) POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER First lady DOLLEY MADISON ordered the famous Washington portrait to be saved while fleeing the White House during the British invasion of 1814. The Madisons' enslaved valet PAUL JENNINGS, the steward JEAN PIERRE SIOUSSAT, and the gardener THOMAS MCGRATH took the portrait from the wall and broke the frame so it could be saved. To learn more about the British invasion of the Capital tune in virtually to White House History Live: When Washington Burned on Aug. 15 at 5:30 p.m. A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it! Edited by Eun Kyung Kim and Sam Stein.   A NEW PODCAST FROM POLITICO: Our new POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy around the world. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and cybersecurity, POLITICO Tech explores how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, innovations and industries that will matter tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY.       Follow us on Twitter Eli Stokols @EliStokols Lauren Egan @Lauren_V_Egan Lawrence Ukenye @Lawrence_Ukenye   Follow us

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