How Biden is selling his infrastructure plan to Democrats
Published Date: 4/1/2021
Source: axios.com

White House senior adviser Anita Dunn is making the case that Democrats can't lose by rallying around President Biden's infrastructure plan because its individual components poll even higher than the $1.9 trillion COVID stimulus passed last month.

Driving the news: "Key components of President Biden’s American Jobs Plan are overwhelmingly popular — among a bipartisan and broad coalition," Dunn wrote in a memo to "interested parties" obtained by Axios around Biden's rollout of the first of two infrastructure spending packages.


Why it matters: With a price tag of between $2.2 trillion and $2.7 trillion depending on how it's calculated, it already has come under fire from Republican lawmakers and faces resistance from some moderate Democrats.

  • But Dunn's memo suggests that, rather than worry, Democrats can lean into the popularity of the individual components of the plan to pressure House and Senate Republicans to come around — and bash them to voters if they don't.

By the numbers: Dunn cites public polling showing between 74% and 87% support among Americans for seven elements: new job training for coal miners, highway and bridge work, increasing affordable childcare, expanding broadband access, expanding family and medical leave, upgrading public transportation, and investing in clean energy.

  • The individual elements garner higher bipartisan support than when Americans are simply asked if they support a new infrastructure bill.