ST. LOUIS – Local Democrats and Republicans had very different reactions to President Biden’s historic speech from the Oval Office Wednesday.
Both parties heard the same address but had starkly different takeaways. In light of the current divisive political climate, the two sides could not even agree on whether the speech was necessary in the first place.
One local Democratic strategist said the speech was a much-needed opportunity for the president to clarify his decision not to seek re-election among the American people. Meanwhile, a top local Republican called the speech a free campaign advertisement for the Democratic Party and its now-presumptive nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Longtime Democratic strategist Braxton Payne called President Biden’s speech consistent with his overall message of protecting democracy.
“President Biden has always said that this is a democracy, and securing our democracy is the most important thing—and what we’re going to vote on this November,” Payne said.
But Republicans argued the speech itself was political in nature. Mary Theresa McLean, the chair of the St. Louis City GOP, said former President Trump’s campaign was right to ask for equal airtime following President Biden’s speech.
“If the tables were turned, Biden and Harris would want the same thing,” McLean said.
Both sides appear to agree on one thing: the table is now set for a Trump-Harris matchup, with each party arguing the other’s candidate isn’t fit to serve.
“The GOP believes she is not fit to be president,” McLean said. “It’s pretty cut-and-dry.”
“We have a choice: do we want a dictator, or somebody who has dictator tendencies, or a democracy?” Payne said.
