Former President Donald J. Trump is set to go on trial in Manhattan on Monday, but President Biden and his allies are expected to remain relatively quiet on the matter. Democrats believe that a former president facing criminal charges related to covering up a sex scandal during the 2016 campaign speaks for itself. Media coverage of the trial is anticipated to be constant, especially if Mr. Trump decides to testify, as he has suggested. While Mr. Trump navigates up to eight weeks in court, Mr. Biden will focus on campaigning and employing a “Rose Garden strategy” from the White House, a contrast that the president’s aides hope will resonate with voters.
The fact that Mr. Trump will be involved in a court case filled with salacious details and financial maneuverings while Mr. Biden addresses conflicts in the Middle East could further strengthen this approach.
Mr. Biden and his campaign have chosen not to comment publicly on the criminal charges against Mr. Trump, concerned about potentially influencing the cases or fueling Mr. Trump’s baseless claims that Mr. Biden orchestrated the charges.
Several deep-pocketed outside Democratic groups supporting the Biden campaign are following a similar strategy. They believe that ads focusing on Mr. Biden’s accomplishments or highlighting Mr. Trump’s threat to democracy resonate better with voters than emphasizing Mr. Trump’s legal troubles. Additionally, the complexity of the Manhattan case, brought forth by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, makes it challenging to explain concisely in ads.
“I just don’t think in the end it’s the strongest argument for voters,” said Steve Schale, a Democratic strategist leading a pro-Biden super PAC named Unite the Country. “Campaigns have limited resources, and you spend those resources in a way that moves the most votes.”
Mr. Schale’s group plans to invest around $40 million in a spring ad campaign in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin focusing on Mr. Biden’s achievements and criticizing Mr. Trump for his anti-democratic stance.
As Mr. Trump faces trial, he becomes the first U.S. president to undergo criminal prosecution. He is accused of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, a former adult film star, as part of an attempt to influence the 2016 election. This is one of four criminal indictments he faces, although it may be the only one to reach trial before Election Day. Mr. Trump maintains his innocence in all cases.
At a rally in eastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Trump baselessly implied that the charges against him were orchestrated by President Biden. However, the Biden campaign and affiliated groups are focusing their efforts elsewhere, as voter interest in the legal proceedings appears to be limited. Some polls indicate that voters consider this case the least serious of the indictments against Mr. Trump.
Democratic groups specializing in “rapid response” communication plan to monitor Mr. Trump’s behavior in court and during post-court news conferences to convey their messages on social media.
Meanwhile, as Mr. Trump attends court proceedings, Mr. Biden will be campaigning in Pennsylvania, with stops in Scranton, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, providing a favorable contrast for Democrats.
There is a possibility that Mr. Biden may be tempted to comment on the trial during interactions with voters and the media, as he is not known for his disciplined approach. Democrats might reconsider their strategy if Mr. Trump is convicted in the Manhattan case, as polling suggests that swing-state voters could be swayed if Mr. Trump is labeled a felon.
The federal election interference case against Mr. Trump, known as the Jan. 6 case, could also impact how Democrats approach the issue if it goes to trial, as it directly aligns with the argument that Mr. Trump poses a threat to democracy.
For now, many Democrats believe that Mr. Trump’s presence in a Manhattan courtroom will speak volumes about the current state of the Republican Party.
