President Biden to visit Triangle on Thursday: What to expect
President Joe Biden will visit the Triangle on Thursday just days after the first votes were cast in the 2024 presidential nomination contest.
The president, who will discuss the economy during his visit, has branded his economic efforts as “Bidenomics.”
WRAL News has learned Biden will speak at Abbotts Creek Community Center in Raleigh.
Portions of Falls of Neuse Road and other roads will be closed periodically between 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The Wake County Public School System said the road closures will delay dismissals at nearby schools.
Biden on Thursday will also discuss his “Investing in America Agenda," which has a goal of "repairing and rebuilding our infrastructure, lowering costs, supporting a small business boom and creating good-paying jobs," according to the White House.
The 2024 presidential election will likely be a rematch of Joe Biden and Donald Trump. When comparing their terms in office, inflation was lower under Trump, but so was job creation.
The economy has added 14 million new jobs since Biden took office, which is significantly more than under Trump. Biden is expected to highlight that job growth on Thursday.
According to Will Doran, WRAL's state government reporter, Biden has also pushed Congress to approve major spending on fixing bridges, building roads and rail lines, and funding renewable energy.
The aim is to combat climate change, improve local communities and create new jobs.
"The numbers don’t lie about job creation in the last few years," Doran said. "It’s booming. But critics say that’s also part of what’s driving inflation. We expect to hear a rebuttal from the GOP tomorrow, highlighting their own arguments."
Biden lost North Carolina in 2020 to then-President Donald Trump, 49.9% to 48.5% or less than 75,000 votes. Trump carried the state in 2016 as well en route to his electoral college victory over Hillary Clinton.
Trump won Monday's Iowa caucus and is the front-runner for the Republican nomination, setting up a potential rematch with Biden in November.
North Carolina's primary election is March 5. Biden will be the lone Democrat on the ballot.
