While the presidential campaigns may not be in full swing just yet, comments made by Trump and Biden on two major issues will have a lasting effect on their campaigns.

Abortion is marked as a major issue in the 2024 presidential election. A poll released

March 7 by The Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent source for polling, suggests 58% of

American voters opposed a 16-week abortion ban. This indicates that a candidate’s stance on

abortion is an important factor in their vote.

Former President Trump’s comments privately on this issue in conversation suggested he supports a 16-week abortion ban. An anonymous source for the New York Times described Trump saying, “know what I like about 16? It’s even. It’s four months.”

The lack of seriousness this comment portrays can be alarming for some voters, even for those who support a 16-week ban. Abortion is an important ethical issue for American citizens, meaning the lack of credit given to the issue by Trump’s comment could hurt his campaign if perceived negatively by voters .

According to Trump’s advisors, when looking for a possible vice-presidential candidate, he always asks if they are “OK on abortion.” He is reportedly “dismissive” if the candidate does not support “the three exceptions.” Those exceptions being rape, incest or life-saving measures for the mother, a priority for a number of Americans meaning it could gain him votes if utilized correctly.

President Biden’s State of the Union address shows a stark contrast between these two on abortion. In his address he brought out Kate Cox, a woman who required an abortion due to her fetus having a fatal condition. Biden mentioned Cox’s story to show his distaste for women having to travel out of state for abortions, in turn appealing to pro-abortion voters nationwide.

When discussing the overturning of Roe V. Wade, Biden says, “If you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you, I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again.” This statement directly appeals to pro-abortion voters and it seems Biden’s team understands the importance of those votes.

Overall, both candidates possess glaringly different views on this issue. What matters for their campaigns are how they choose to discuss these issues and to what extent they can use them to gain votes.

Immigration has become increasingly important for voters as well. Regardless of opinion, many Americans feel the immigration issue at the border has become more urgent and needs to be addressed.

Trump gave a speech in Ohio on March 16 where he addressed the issue of immigration.

He accused other countries of emptying their prisons of “young people” and sending them to the border, without evidence. He continued by saying, “I don’t know if you call them people, in some cases. They’re not people, in my opinion.”

While many of his supporters and undecided voters may approve of this stance, the dehumanizing language can be concerning for voters from both sides.

In opposition, Biden did an interview with Univision Radio March 19 where he said, “This guy [Trump] despises Latinos.” He continued to criticize Trump and his mass deportation proposals, proving Biden understands the importance of Latino votes for his campaign. How he utilizes his stance on immigration will be crucial for his re-election.

Both candidates clearly have starkly different views on two major topics in the 2024 election. We are very early on in their campaigns, so both sides will likely polish their positions further in the following months, constantly changing how they are perceived by Americans.

While their positions on these issues matter, what will really play a role in their perception as candidates is understanding what voters impact their campaign and to what extent they are able to reach those voters.

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