This is Left Brighton Center from KCRW. I'm Molly Ball, National Political Correspondent

for Time Magazine, filling in this week for David Green.

There's been a lot of talk about the Republican presidential primaries, former President

Donald Trump seeking the nomination for a third time despite a pair of indictments and

a growing list of challengers. But this week we're going to take a look at the other side

by turning to President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign.

After announcing his reelection bid with a video two months ago, the incumbent president

held his first campaign rally in Philadelphia last weekend, striking a populist tone and

accepting the AFLCIO's endorsement before a crowd of union members.

There are a lot of politicians in this country who can't say the word union.

Because you know I'm not one of them. I'm proud to say the word. I'm proud to be the most

pro-union president in American history.

After praising union labor as the backbone of the American economy, Biden turned to inequality

and reiterated his promise of higher taxes on the rich.

This week, the president and vice president also held a series of big dollar fundraisers

across the country to fill their campaign war chest. This included a stop in California

where Biden touted his record on climate and an event in the Bay Area. He announced $2

billion to modernize the national electric grid and another $600 million to support climate

adaptation for coastal communities. Throughout our history, we're the only nation in the world

that has come out of every crisis we've entered stronger than we would into it.

We're doing it again here in the climate crisis.

But Biden remains very unpopular with voters, with an approval rating around 40% and polls showing

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