Joe Biden’s presidential campaign released his first general election announcement in Texas on Tuesday, indicating that the campaign sees the traditionally red state as competitive for the former vice president in November.
The campaign announced the purchase of television and digital media in which Biden speaks directly to Americans who feel “anxious and fearful” and “seek leadership during a time of crisis,” according to the campaign. The ads are slated to run in Texas, as well as Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina.
BIDEN CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES FIRST AD BLITZ GENERAL ELECTION
“This is the first time during the general election that our campaign is spending in the air and online in the Lone Star State,” the campaign said.
The ad airing in Texas is titled “Tough” and features Biden speaking to voters and encouraging them as positive cases of the new coronavirus surge.
“I am thinking of all of you today across Texas and while the increasing number of cases is causing fear and apprehension, people are scared and especially concerned about their parents and grandparents, their loved ones who are most at risk.” Biden says in the ad. “This virus is difficult, but Texas is more difficult.”
Biden continues to urge Texans to “do the simple things,” such as wearing a mask, washing hands, staying home when possible, and distancing themselves socially in public.
“I want every American to know, if you’re sick, if you’re struggling, if you’re worried about how you’re going to get through the day, I won’t leave you,” says Biden. “We are all in this together. We will fight this together. Together we will come out of this stronger than we were before we started.”
According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Biden and President Trump are tied at 45 percent in Texas.
Similar “difficult” ads will be announced in Arizona, Florida and North Carolina with state-specific images and a personalized message from Biden, according to the campaign.
Meanwhile, later this week, the campaign will launch digital video ads in those states.
FUNDRAISING INCREASE: CAMPAIGN AND DNC WITHDRAW IN MAY OF $ 80 MILLION IN MAY
The additional purchase is mid-six figures and will run in each state’s major markets on local cable and on Sunday’s cable shows. The campaign is also expected to publish Spanish subtitled versions of the spot in Arizona, Florida and Texas on YouTube, Facebook and Univision.
The efforts came after last month’s campaign revealed a $ 15 million television, digital, radio and print media blitz to run in six general election battleground states won by then Republican nominee Donald Trump in 2016. Commercials are running in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. , Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina, with announcements in English and Spanish airing in Florida and Arizona.
President Trump’s reelection campaign began airing television commercials before Biden, starting in the same six battlefield states where Biden did it, as well as Ohio and Iowa, two states that Trump captured by larger margins in 2016. .
