Feb. 7, 2023: Inside Biden’s high-road SOTU

In his prior trips to the House rostrum, President Joe Biden was flanked
by symbols of unified Democratic power in Washington: VP Kamala Harris
over his right shoulder and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi over his left. 

When Biden arrives tonight for his State of the Union address, things
will look different. A newly minted Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy,
will look down on Biden in a visual reminder of how power has shifted in
Washington — and how Biden’s presidency will have to shift along with
it.

Yes, tonight’s address comes just weeks before Biden expected to
announce his reelection campaign. Softening inflation, persistent growth
and record-low unemployment have given him a strong economic record to
sell even as he suddenly finds himself battling Republicans on a new
front over his willingness to confront China.

But we’re told not to expect a red-meat, campaign-style speech. Instead,
expect a traditional presidential call for unity — and a subtler pitch
for steady leadership over partisan chaos as Washington heads into a
high-stakes standoff over the debt limit and long-term fiscal planning.

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Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook
Daily Briefing.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

In his prior trips to the House rostrum, President Joe Biden was flanked by symbols of unified Democratic power in Washington: VP Kamala Harris over his right shoulder and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi over his left. 

When Biden arrives tonight for his State of the Union address, things will look different. A newly minted Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy, will look down on Biden in a visual reminder of how power has shifted in Washington — and how Biden’s presidency will have to shift along with it.

Yes, tonight’s address comes just weeks before Biden expected to announce his reelection campaign. Softening inflation, persistent growth and record-low unemployment have given him a strong economic record to sell even as he suddenly finds himself battling Republicans on a new front over his willingness to confront China.

But we’re told not to expect a red-meat, campaign-style speech. Instead, expect a traditional presidential call for unity — and a subtler pitch for steady leadership over partisan chaos as Washington heads into a high-stakes standoff over the debt limit and long-term fiscal planning.

Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.