Editor’s Note: Jon Gabriel is editor-in-chief of Ricochet.com and an opinion contributor to The Arizona Republic. Follow him on Twitter at @ExJon. The views expressed here are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.
It’s an election year, which means it’s the season for campaign stunts. The goal of these gimmicks is to prove a candidate is strong where they are very, very weak. Upholding that proud tradition, President Joe Biden is headed to the border on Thursday — and so is former President Donald Trump.
Unfortunately for Biden, these stunts usually don’t help very much. Bob Dole spent the closing days of the 1996 campaign on a frantic 96-hour tour before losing to former President Bill Clinton. Sen. John McCain suspended his 2008 presidential campaign to address the Wall Street crash before losing to former President Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton embarked on 2016 cross-country van tour to show a common touch before losing to Trump.
Perhaps Biden’s stunt will end up differently. What makes it curious, however, is that he’s visiting Texas the same day as Trump.
I’m a lifelong resident of Arizona, and border-state voters have heard a lot of talk, but haven’t seen much action. Politicians have had their photos taken in every dusty city and desert town in my state, from Douglas in the east to Yuma in the west. Yet the unlawful migration remains unchecked.
Tucson has witnessed a 182% increase in encounters this fiscal year compared to last. But Texas seems to command the most media attention, making it the ideal location for a photo-op.
The president’s only other visit to the border was a year ago, briefly stopping in El Paso before racing back home. This time, he’s going to Brownsville, Texas, a city located adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and a relatively sleepy stretch for migrant traffic.
