The Election before us is heightening attention on President Joe Biden's State of the Union address to Congress Thursday night.
"It is true that President Biden has a huge opportunity tonight to show energy, to show vision, to show a certain ability to deliver a speech that compels people," explains WCCO political analyst Blois Olson.
Tonight's State of the Union address from President Biden holds more weight than usual in this election cycle and Olson says the president has a lot on the line.
"That takeaway that Americans feel after the speech is his opportunity, and frankly America's opportunity to see if there's the energy and the resolve to get him through to November with a certain spirit," Olson told Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News.
In an Election year, Biden will also use the speech to warn that GOP front-runner Donald Trump would be a dangerous alternative.
Biden’s third such address from the House rostrum will be something of an on-the-job interview, as the nation’s oldest president tries to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his all-but-certain November rival.
The president hopes to showcase his accomplishments on infrastructure and manufacturing, as well as push for action on aid to Ukraine, tougher migration rules, and lower drug prices, among other issues. But as he does so, the 81-year-old president will be closely watched not just for his message but for whether he can deliver it with vigor and command.
White House aides said Biden would aim to prove his doubters wrong by flashing his combative side and trying to needle Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country, particularly on access to abortion, but also tax policy and healthcare. It’s part of his campaign-year effort to use even official speeches to clarify the choice for voters at the ballot box this fall.
Republicans, in contrast, are describing the current state of the union with dark, menacing terms — like “crisis” and “catastrophe” — that echo the dismal tones Trump sounds on the campaign trail.
“America is in decline, nothing he says tomorrow night is going to change that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday.
Trump, for his part, said he planned to respond in real time to Biden’s remarks on his Truth Social platform.
You can listen to the State of the Union address live on 830 WCCO Radio and the Audacy app at 8:00 p.m. tonight, followed by the Republican response.