Interview with Biden Campaign Chief

Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon spoke with political correspondent John Heilemann on his podcast, Impolitic, about the upcoming presidential debate and why Joe Biden is going to win this fall.

Excerpts from the interview

On why Joe Biden will win:

Jen O’Malley Dillon: “The first thing I will say is that Joe Biden is going to win — period. And I’m not saying that because I wish it to be so, I’m saying that because I know it will be so by who he is as a leader and what we were building as a campaign to amplify that. I also know that he is the only person who has beaten Donald Trump… Joe Biden is going to fight for you. He’s going to be the only person that will fight for you… Joe Biden is the only answer to defeat Donald Trump — before and today. He is going to show, as he has every single time, that he is the best leader for this country. … It’s okay for people to be worried because we understand the stakes. But now is the time to be clear about the choice. There is just one choice. It is Joe Biden or Donald Trump, and anyone that does anything but vote for Joe Biden is supporting Donald Trump.”

“At the end of the day, Joe Biden is fighting for the American people and Donald Trump is only in it for himself. Joe Biden is lowering costs. He’s protecting us and our freedoms, and he is focused on protecting democracy. He is creating opportunity for people in this country, and there is a lot more work to do. His vision for 2024 is one that’s going to help the American people and build on what he’s been doing… in contrast to Donald Trump who is only out for himself, and out for people like him, who is not going to let anything stand in the way of taking care of himself.”

“We are going to win, but it is because the people of this country take action, and take action now. For every single person that is worried… go do something about it. Get a yard sign, go on Facebook and say you support Joe Biden, go do your own —- TikToks. That is what we need now. We need people to take whatever worry they have… and do something about it. … Show that you understand what the stakes are and that you want to be a part of building this country for all of us moving forward and be vocal about it now. We’re not waiting [until] the fall. The work is now, the voices of the American people need to be heard now. This debate is going to help put that into clarity that there is one choice.”

On our coordinated campaign infrastructure:

Jen O’Malley Dillon: “We are building an operation in every single battleground state. We have thousands of staff, we have hundreds of offices for people in communities all across these states, for people to come together, and volunteer, and gather, and be with each other, and talk about what they’re worried about and then channel that into action. … But I also think that you have to really, re-look at how people in their lives are engaging and you [have] to find a way to tap into that so it feels in stride with everything else they’re doing. … This means it’s about a blended approach that allows a person like my mom, who might want to come into an office and be with her friends and, you know, do postcards. But it also means how do you reach those people that are young that matter a great deal that don’t see themselves in that and find a way to organize and really make those connections.”

On preparation for the debate:

Jen O’Malley Dillon: “I’m confident that Joe Biden’s going to stand on that stage and he is going to show what he showed in 2020 — that he is in this for all of the right reasons, he’s focused on delivering for the American people, and him standing next to Donald Trump is the best way to show that. … This is a great opportunity, earlier in the cycle than ever before, for the two of them to stand together and for him to talk about what he’s done and what he’s fighting for. And, you know, not having an audience, not having distractions, not having to worry about COVID, I think all those things are better for the American people and Joe Biden’s going to have a great debate.”

On rebuilding the Biden-Harris coalition:

Jen O’Malley Dillon: “I think that people understand the stakes. Our people understand the stakes. … People look at Donald Trump and they hear what he says, from his own mouth, and they know it is actually going to be worse than it was last time. And we’re doing a lot to try to continue to tell that story. … We have a lot of work to continue to do to make our case and to make sure that people see themselves in this campaign and see themselves in the path that we’re moving forward. … At the end of the day, I think our job as a campaign is to channel that worry into action. And that’s really what we’re building for.”

On the Biden-Harris Campaign:

Jen O’Malley Dillon: “I love this campaign. I love the people on this campaign. The American people should see the staff and the leadership of this campaign. They are the best and the brightest, and they’re young and they’re diverse and they care and they are going to be the people that save this world.”

Listen to the full interview at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biden-campaign-chief-to-dem-bedwetters-stop-worrying/id1529346075