Camila Francisco
In a strategic move reminiscent of former President Donald Trump’s campaign tactics, the Biden camp is rolling out a nickname for its political adversary as the 2024 race intensifies.
In a recent communication to supporters, the Biden-Harris campaign dubbed Trump as “Broke Don,” emulating a tactic famously employed by Trump during his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. The adoption of this moniker by Team Biden follows their reported substantial fundraising lead over Trump and the Republican National Committee (RNC).
According to a Federal Election Commission report released on Wednesday, the Biden campaign concluded February with $71 million in cash reserves. When combined with the Democratic National Committee’s resources, the president’s financial arsenal swells to $97.5 million, as per POLITICO. This figure effectively doubles the combined funds of the Trump campaign and the RNC, which stands at $44.8 million.
The Biden campaign’s email to supporters, titled “Not a Winning Campaign: Broke Don Hides in Basement,” highlighted Trump’s alleged fundraising struggles and lack of active campaigning, suggesting he’s allowing individuals with dubious backgrounds to steer his campaign.
Trump’s penchant for assigning nicknames to opponents, a hallmark of his political strategy across three campaigns, has included monikers like “Lyin’ Ted” for Senator Ted Cruz and “Crooked Hillary” for Hillary Clinton. The Biden campaign’s adoption of this tactic also echoes Trump’s criticism of Biden’s 2020 campaign as a “basement campaign.”
While Trump’s use of nicknames has been a staple of his campaign rhetoric, some political strategists question its efficacy for the Biden team. One Democratic strategist expressed skepticism to The Hill, suggesting that mimicking Trump’s approach may not yield favorable results, emphasizing the need for a more innovative and distinct strategy.
Bruce Mehlman, a former George W. Bush administration official, referenced a cautionary quote from George Bernard Shaw when commenting on the Biden campaign’s emulation of Trump’s tactics.
