NEWS AND OPINION:
President Biden ventured to Arizona on Tuesday in an effort to reach out to Hispanic voters. His appearance at a Phoenix restaurant was heralded by campaign signs that read “Latinos con Biden/Harris.”
A recent AP-NORC poll, however, has revealed that only 36% of Hispanic adults approve of the job Mr. Biden is doing. In addition, 38% of U.S. adults overall give the president the nod, along with 58% of Black adults. The poll of 1,102 adults was conducted Feb. 22-26.
So what does it all mean? The news may not please the White House.
“Democrats have taken the Hispanic community for granted for far too long, and no amount of money the Biden campaign spends will change the fact that Biden and Harris have been a disaster for our community, from the failing economy to the border crisis and the uncontrollable rise of crime in our neighborhoods,” said Jaime Florez, the Republican National Committee’s Hispanic outreach and communications director, in a statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
“Republicans will continue receiving with open arms thousands of Hispanics that are moving to our party, disappointed with Democrats and their policies, and will be fundamental to Republican victories all over the country in 2024,” Mr. Florez said.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump leads Mr. Biden 48% to 44% in an Emerson College survey of 1,100 U.S. adults conducted March 12-15 and released Wednesday.
“A majority of Arizona voters (58%) do not believe Joe Biden deserves to be re-elected, while 42% think he deserves to be re-elected,” according to the poll’s analysis.
The media have noticed.
“The problem Joe Biden and his party face this year is growing numbers of Hispanics and other nonwhite working-class voters view Democrats as out of touch. White voters without a college degree have been quitting the Democratic Party in earnest since the Obama presidency. Democrats didn’t expect to see Hispanics follow, but that’s what has happened,” said Jason L. Riley, an opinion columnist covering the topic of upward mobility for The Wall Street Journal.
The Melania media
Former first lady Melania Trump made a brief public appearance alongside her husband and former president, standing in the Florida sunlight outside their Mar-a-Lago residence after they had voted in the Florida presidential primary on Tuesday.
The press most certainly noticed. Here are a few headlines from the last 24 hours that followed the sighting:
“Melania Trump teases potential return to the campaign trail” (CNN); Melania Trump says ‘stay tuned’ about return to campaigning as she votes in Palm Beach” (Palm Beach Post); “Melania Trump makes rare appearance on 2024 campaign trail” (ABC News); “Melania Trump is back, just in time to channel this summer’s Flash Florida style aesthetic” (The Telegraph); Melania Trump wears classic Louboutins to vote in Florida Republican Primary” (Footwear News).
“Louboutins,” by the way, refers to Christian Louboutin, maker of fine shoes and accessories.
A Barron update
Barron Trump — son of the aforementioned Donald and Melania Trump — privately marked his 18th birthday on Wednesday. He now stands 6 feet, 7 inches tall, according to press reports, and will graduate from the Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, in May.
“Much of Barron’s life of late has been focused on looking at colleges for his next chapter — and his mother is very involved in the process,” People magazine said on Wednesday.
“Melania is all about Barron and her family. She has always been family-oriented, and in addition to some of the charity work she has done, staying ahead of family issues is her priority. She has a good life,” the news organization stated.
An Obama update
Former President Barack Obama will be the centerpiece of a high-tech presentation at the Obama Presidential Center Museum, now under construction on the South Side of Chicago.
“Did you know that President Obama was the first president to send a Tweet? And the first to answer questions from citizens on YouTube? And the first to go live on Facebook from the Oval Office?” the center asked in a written report shared with Inside the Beltway.
“President Obama leaves a lasting legacy as our first digital president, and at the Obama Presidential Center Museum, we’re going to bring this story to life with cutting-edge digital experiences and exhibits,” the center said.
Mr. Obama himself visited the site earlier this month to view a prototype of “The Power of Words” — one of these digital media experiences. It is, in a word, destined to be large — as in four stories tall, according to the museum website.
“At an eventual height of 88 feet, the ‘Power of Words’ installation will be a signature digital element of the Museum. The four-story-tall canvas will display powerful imagery, along with speeches, songs, art, and poetry that demonstrate how words and language can be a catalyst for change,” the site stated.
There are some lofty goals at work, apparently.
“Beyond telling the story of the Obamas, the multimedia exhibits at the Obama Presidential Center Museum will inspire visitors to make positive change in the world around them, much like the ways President and Mrs. Obama used technology to connect with and unite millions of people,” the center said.
Curious about all this? Visit Obama.org for more insight. The 19-acre center will open to the public in 2026.
Poll du jour
• 27% of U.S. adults say they are “extremely enthusiastic” about voting in the 2024 presidential election; 40% of Republicans, 31% of Democrats and 12% of independents agree.
• 24% overall are “not at all enthusiastic” about only voting in the election; 11% of Republicans, 12% of Democrats and 47% of independents agree.
• 16% overall are “very enthusiastic” about voting; 18% of Republicans, 21% of Democrats and 10% of independents agree.
• 16% overall are “somewhat enthusiastic”; 15% of Republicans, 21% of Democrats and 14% of independents agree.
• 16% overall are “not too enthusiastic”; 17% of Republicans, 14% of Democrats and 18% of independents agree.
Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,682 U.S. adults conducted March 16-19.
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• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.