State of the Union: Skittish Dems urge Biden to talk climate

By Kelsey Brugger | 03/06/2024 06:49 AM EST

“We have a great story to tell,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Environment and Public Works chair. “Eventually it will break through.”

President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

President Joe Biden delivering his State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress last year. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

As the campaign season kicks off in earnest, congressional Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to highlight wins in the clean energy transition at his State of the Union speech on Thursday.

Democrats have a lot of work to do on that front — millions of Americans still have no idea what the administration has accomplished on climate and energy.

“We have a great story to tell,” Environment and Public Works Chair Tom Carper (D-Del.) said in an interview. “He has to tell it. We have to tell it. Eventually it will break through.”

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They better hope it breaks through soon. Several polls have shown that many voters are unfamiliar with Biden’s and Democrats’ climate and energy efforts. A recent survey from Third Way found Americans consider former President Donald Trump best equipped on energy and economic issues.

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