WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Democratic National Committee is organizing hundreds of community events across the country this weekend in hopes of harnessing the same concerns about affordability that President Donald Trump capitalized on to return to the White House.
The events include school supply giveaways, food bank drives, neighborhood door knockings and organizer trainings.
鈥淓verything costs too damn much under Donald Trump and the Republicans,鈥� Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.
Martin said party members planned 鈥渢o reach, engage, register, and mobilize voters who will make the difference in races up and down the ballot.鈥�
Two years ago, Democrats were the ones accused of being indifferent to Americans鈥� anger about rising prices. Now they’re pointing the finger at Trump, who has downplayed the impact of lingering inflation.
He has described affordability concerns as a and recently said, because he expects costs to drop as he tries to resolve his war with Iran.
About one-third of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to from June. That鈥檚 down from the start of his second term, when 40% approved.
About 7 in 10 U.S. adults say the country鈥檚 economy is 鈥減oor,鈥� according to from June. That鈥檚 up from 65% in March, and underscores Americans鈥� ongoing unhappiness with the cost of living, which is being compounded by high gas prices due to the war in Iran.
Slightly more U.S. adults say the Democratic Party would do a better job than the Republican Party in handling inflation and the cost of living, according to a from May. Roughly one-third of U.S. adults 鈥� 35% 鈥� said the Democrats would do a better job, while 28% believe the Republicans would. Roughly one-third say the parties would be the same, or neither would be good.
This weekend’s events vary by region.
In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Luj谩n Grisham will convene a training for 150 potential campaign staffers. Nevada鈥檚 statewide campaigns will knock on doors in rural and working class neighborhoods. Others will call voters in swing districts with competitive U.S. House races to talk about the rising price of gas.
Some events are geared toward directly helping voters to persuade them that Democrats are concerned about affordability.
For instance, the local party in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, plans to collect and distribute school supplies to poor families. And canvassers will fan out to discuss affordability issues in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The Republican National Committee dismissed the weekend’s events.
鈥淒espite being millions of dollars in debt, the DNC is choosing to throw pitiful pep rallies to distract from the fact they created the inflation crisis,” said Delanie Bomar, an RNC spokeswoman. “Meanwhile, Republicans are hard at work fixing the economic mess Joe Biden and the Democrats created.鈥�
Democrats hope that the events will show that their time in the political wilderness has made it more serious and effective at tackling kitchen table issues. But some fear their agenda may not be heard by voters in an increasingly fractured media environment.
鈥淥ne of Donald Trump鈥檚 greatest strengths is that he鈥檚 so loud,鈥� said Brian Derrick, a Democratic strategist. He said that events like the weekend鈥檚 itinerary help Democrats focus on an 鈥淎chilles鈥� heel鈥� issue for Trump, 鈥渨hich right now is his lack of interest in addressing everyday costs for people.鈥�
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