Biden’s allies promote his agenda to Black Georgians in ad blitz

Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senate candidates, with President-elect Joe Biden at a rally in Atlanta, Jan. 4, 2021. Senate control opens up new possibilities for Democrats on health care, but the party will still need to contend with arcane rules and the challenges of a narrow majority. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Credit: Wire

Credit: Wire

Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senate candidates, with President-elect Joe Biden at a rally in Atlanta, Jan. 4, 2021. Senate control opens up new possibilities for Democrats on health care, but the party will still need to contend with arcane rules and the challenges of a narrow majority. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

President Joe Biden’s allies are stepping up their efforts to defend his agenda in Georgia with a new ad campaign aimed at the Black voters who fueled the Democratic victories in November’s election and January’s Senate runoffs.

The pro-Biden outside group Building Back Together on Thursday launched a digital and radio ad campaign targeting voters of color with messages touting the $3.5 trillion social policy proposal that is pending in Congress.

The campaign involves 15- and 30-second ads also promote U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, whose victories over GOP incumbents flipped control of the Senate and made Biden’s agenda possible.

The group reserved more than $500,000 worth of ad time in Georgia. It’s part of a broader $10 million campaign to defend Biden’s proposals, which also include a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan moving through Congress.

In response, the Republican National Committee spokesman Garrison Douglas said it was “beyond comprehension that Joe Biden and Democrats would seek to double down on policies that are harming Black Georgians.”

Republicans are also hitting the airwaves to undercut support for the social policy proposal, which involves plans to fund paid family leave and childcare costs, extend child tax credits, guarantee two years of higher education and expand Medicare.

A newly formed conservative group, Common Sense Leadership Fund, launched a six-figure ad campaign this week describing the policy package as a “power grab” that gives bureaucrats too much power and offers “handouts for radical environmentalists.”