President Donald Trump is traveling to a swing district in eastern Pennsylvania as he makes an effort to reassure voters that he cares about an issue he has dismissed as a "Democratic hoax."
Polls show a majority of Americans feel that Trump hasn't carried through on his campaign promise to lower prices, and increasing numbers of Americans are concerned about the economy and affordability, so the president is hitting the road in hopes of staving off an electoral wipeout for Republicans in next year's midterm elections, reported CNN.
"Alarm bells began going off on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue after Democrats walked away with major victories in New Jersey, Virginia and California last month, with high prices and cost-of-living concerns ranking as a top issue for voters," according to multiple White House and Trump administration officials who spoke to CNN.
White House officials have advised Trump to step up his efforts — and are actively putting “policy time” on his daily schedule – to express greater sympathy for Americans struggling with rising prices instead of simply blaming his predecessor for the problem.
“Joe Biden is no longer a threat to them because he’s out of office, he’s never going to be in office again,” the Trump adviser said, arguing that the president needs instead to focus on selling his policies and reassuring voters that more help is on the way. “You’ve got to feel their pain. You’ve got to talk about it every day.”
At the same time, Trump wants Republicans to do a better job of highlighting his economic policies.
“He feels this is a communication issue,” said one administration official. “He wants Republicans to step it up in talking about all the good work being done to improve the economy.”
White House officials want to see the president making weekly trips around the country to deliver his message on the economy, and they believe that progress is being made on on lowering prices for gas and eggs. They said some voters will benefit from tax relief set to take effect next year.
"Aides are also on the hunt for more ways to demonstrate that they’re focused on cost-of-living issues, from slashing the price of beef to holding out hope that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates and bring mortgage rates down," CNN reported.
"But just as critical as making progress on affordability is ensuring voters feel it, aides and advisers acknowledged. And while Trump has been told he needs to make a more sympathetic case, he’s remained reluctant so far to buy into that approach completely."