President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump held dueling campaign events in Georgia, focusing on immigration and the recent death of a nursing student. Biden apologized for using the term “illegal” to describe the alleged undocumented immigrant who killed the student, Laken Riley. Trump blamed Biden’s immigration policies for Riley’s death and met with her parents before his campaign event in Rome, Georgia.
Both Biden and Trump have been campaigning in Georgia, a crucial battleground state that Biden won in 2020. Sixty miles apart, they held rallies in Rome and Atlanta, respectively. Biden has been focusing on contrasting himself with Trump and rebuilding his winning coalition of minority voters, particularly Black voters in Georgia. However, his current support among Black and Hispanic voters is lower now than it was in 2020, according to a CBS News poll.
Biden’s campaign has been investing in media buys for Black and Hispanic-owned media outlets, and various political committees representing minority groups have endorsed him. While Black voters have historically shown up in high numbers to vote for progressive issues and candidates in Georgia, there are concerns and critiques within the Black community that cannot be ignored. Trump’s trip to Georgia comes as he seeks to clinch the GOP nomination, with the state holding its presidential nominating contests on Tuesday, March 12.
This is Trump’s first time back in Georgia since August when he faced charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In January 2021, Trump allegedly asked Governor Brian Kemp and other Georgia state officials to add votes that would overturn Biden’s win in the state. The upcoming primary in Georgia will be crucial for both campaigns, with Trump aiming to secure the GOP nomination and Biden working to rebuild his coalition of minority voters in the state.
Overall, both Biden and Trump are focusing on key issues such as immigration and minority voter support in Georgia as they campaign for the upcoming primary elections. The recent death of a nursing student has brought attention to immigration policies, with Biden apologizing for his language and Trump blaming Biden for the tragedy. The contrasting approaches of the two candidates reflect the broader political landscape in Georgia and the importance of the state in the upcoming general election.
