Biden unveils new electric vehicle initiative as polls continue to slide
President Joe Biden has declared that he will continue as his party's nominee despite a growing number of Democrats who see the idea as insane.
In what may be an effort to shift the narrative, Biden recently pulled the trigger on a new electric vehicle initiative.
Companies can receive funds by shifting to electric vehicle production
According to Axios, the president boasted in a statement this week that his administration is "building a clean energy economy can and should be a win-win for union autoworkers and automakers."
Under the plan, automakers and suppliers will be eligible to receive funds from $2 billion set aside by the Department of Energy.
The money is earmarked to help companies save at-risk or shuttered plants on the conditions that they are converted to produce electric vehicles.
Interestingly, a Pew Research poll released in April found that the number of Americans who would consider purchasing an electric vehicle stands at only 35%, representing an eight-point drop from last year.
"This announcement is a hallmark of the Biden administration's industrial strategy, which is a strategy to bring manufacturing and jobs back to America after years of offshoring," Axios quoted Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm as telling reporters on Thursday.
"The future of the auto industry will be American made"
Granholm further touted the initiative in a social media post, declaring, "The future of the auto industry will be American made."
The future of the auto industry will be American made.
With $500M from @POTUS, @GM's Lansing Grand River Assembly joins a growing network of auto plants reviving U.S. manufacturing.
From Michigan to Georgia, we're investing nearly $2B to retain and create good-paying jobs. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/usAbYXcWlH
— Secretary Jennifer Granholm (@SecGranholm) July 11, 2024
"With [$500 million] from [President Joe Biden], [General Motors'] Lansing Grand River Assembly joins a growing network of auto plants reviving U.S. manufacturing," she continued.
The energy secretary concluded by stating, "From Michigan to Georgia, we're investing nearly $2B to retain and create good-paying jobs."
Announcement comes as polls show Biden struggling in swing states
Granholm's decision to mention Michigan and Georgia supports a claim by Axios that this week's announcement "can't be untethered from politics" as "some of the 11 facilities are in swing states."
Biden appears to be fighting an uphill battle against former President Donald Trump, with most polls showing him lagging behind his predecessor.
According to survey aggregates maintained by Real Clear Politics, Trump leads Biden by four points in Georgia and just over half a point in Michigan.