President Joe Biden's two-day visit to Nevada on July 16 and 17, 2024, was significant as he aimed to win over Latino voters in the battleground state. The visit included several events and speeches focusing on various issues important to the community.
On July 16, Biden spoke at the Live to Vote Prosperity Summit held at the College of Southern Nevada. During his speech, he discussed a three-part plan aimed at lowering housing costs in Southern Nevada. The plan includes a 5% cap on annual rent increase for major landlords with 50 or more units, federal land being sold at discounted prices to build new affordable housing, and over $300 million allocated for Neighborhood Choice Grants.
The following day, Biden was scheduled to address the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy group, UnidosUS. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to attend the event. Instead, he sent a video message expressing his regrets for not being able to speak in person.
Biden's visit to Nevada comes as polls show him trailing former President Donald Trump in the state. According to a YouGov/The Times/SAY poll conducted between July 4 and July 12, Trump leads Biden by 4 percentage points, with 46% of registered voters supporting him compared to Biden's 42%. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.
Despite some unease among elected leaders and party activists about Biden's campaign, there were no calls for him to step down. Some voters in Nevada have shifted their support from Biden to Trump due to dissatisfaction with Democrats.
Biden's housing proposal forms the centerpiece of his pitch in Nevada and represents an attempt to shift the focus of the race toward policy areas where he is believed to hold an advantage over Trump. The president has also introduced a plan offering potential citizenship to thousands of undocumented immigrants, potentially up to half a million, which could appeal to Latino voters.
Biden's visit coincided with Trump's appearance at the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin. Biden is falling behind Trump in polls of most swing states and securing the support of minority voters is seen as crucial for him to have a chance of winning re-election.