President Joe Biden made a captivating appearance at the Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 13, 2024, as he and his allies launched a charm offensive aimed at securing support from high-profile Republicans and donors who are hesitant to back Donald Trump. However, their efforts have hit a roadblock, with no nationally recognized Republican Party officials endorsing Biden as of Thursday.
The ultimate endorsement that would shine above all others for Biden is that of former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, a former presidential primary candidate. Despite efforts by some of Biden’s donors who also supported Haley to privately encourage her to endorse Biden, the task seems nearly impossible as Haley risks sacrificing her future political prospects within a Republican Party increasingly dominated by Trump.
While Haley, along with other prominent Republicans such as former Rep. Liz Cheney and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have not officially endorsed Biden, they have publicly criticized Trump in the past. Biden’s campaign believes that securing endorsements from these bold-faced names could make a significant impact later in the election cycle.
As Biden’s campaign ramps up its operations, the focus has shifted to attracting donations from anti-Trump Republican donors. Biden has outpaced Trump in fundraising, but a newly formed Republican joint fundraising committee could tilt the scales in Trump’s favor. Efforts are underway to recruit Haley’s donors to contribute to Biden’s campaign, but policy disagreements with the Democratic administration have hindered progress.
The Biden team is also targeting disillusioned Haley supporters through advertisements and political action committees urging them to back Biden over Trump. Winning over these voters and securing their donations may be crucial for Biden’s re-election bid, as polls show a tight race between Biden and Trump. The success of converting individual anti-Trump VIPs into Biden supporters could hold valuable lessons for the campaign moving forward.