President Biden's campaign team will launch a $50 million ad blitz targeting Republican challenger Donald Trump's felony convictions ahead of the first presidential debate on June 27.
This move marks a significant shift in how Biden is handling the issue of Trump's convictions. Previously, President Biden was reluctant to get involved in Trump's legal troubles to avoid being drawn into them.
A 30-second ad named "Character Matters" will air in all swing states, which have fluctuated between Republican and Democratic control in recent elections. The ad states, "This election is between a criminal who profits only for himself and a president who fights for your family," contrasting the two candidates.
On May 30, a New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
With less than five months until the election, Biden and Trump are tied in national polls, while Trump holds a slight edge in the swing states that will determine the election outcome. Polls show Trump scores higher than Biden on economic issues like inflation.
Initially, Biden's campaign team and some Democrats were cautious about emphasizing Trump's convictions, adopting a wait-and-see approach until after polling and voter feedback before responding strongly.
Earlier this month, during a small fundraising event in Greenwich, Connecticut, Biden for the first time referred to Trump as a "convicted criminal" and stated that Trump would pose a greater threat to America if re-elected.
