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President Biden is expected to use his State of the Union address as a launching pad for a likely reelection announcement in the coming weeks, but a batch of new polls show he still has work to do to convince voters that he deserves a second term.

Biden is likely to use Tuesday’s prime-time speech to argue the economy and Americans’ day-to-day lives are better than when he took office. The president will then hit the road to tout his achievements as his plans to run for reelection appear to be full steam ahead.

But there are signs that even a productive past year that featured major investments in the economy and declining concerns about a recession may not be enough for Biden to excite even some in his own party about a 2024 bid. 

“I think this is an impossible speech to give because it’s a speech that requires him to speak both about the state of the union as it is and the direction he hopes to lead it, which is about playing the role of statesman. But it also is going to lay the groundwork for most likely his own run for office in 2024, which will call for him to be decidedly political and to cover all kinds of ground,” said William Howell, a political scientist at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. 

Biden and his team believe they have a strong case to make to the American public that they can contrast with the chaotic early weeks of the House GOP majority. The White House especially wants to focus on the economy, which has seen some unprecedented turn around in recent weeks.

Biden plans to point to recent economic data that has shown record-setting job growth and the cost of goods falling, which, taken together, have economists optimistic that the U.S. will avoid a recession, something that was a major concern just a few months ago.

But Biden is going into his speech on the heels of a Washington Post-ABC News poll that showed 62 percent of Americans think the president accomplished “not very much” or “little or nothing” in his first two years in office.

Four out of 10 of those polled indicated they are personally worse off financially since Biden became president, the most recorded in that survey in 37 years.

A Monmouth University poll released Monday found just 24 percent of Americans feel the country is headed in the right direction, down significantly from a high point of 41 percent in April 2021. 

“I think the core message is we have to make more progress, but people should feel optimism that, because of what we have seen and because of the progress we have made, that we know how to keep making progress going forward,” National Economic Council Director Brian Deese told reporters Monday when asked about Americans who may not be feeling the benefits of Biden’s economic agenda.

Another poll released Monday found that only 37 percent of Democrats want Biden to seek another term, which is down from 52 percent ahead of the midterm elections in November, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. 

Poll respondents cited his age as an issue, which has been a consistent concern for voters and some Democratic Party officials. Biden was the oldest president at the time he was sworn in, and he would be 82 at the start of a second term.

Then there is the Chinese surveillance balloon that traversed a swath of the U.S. last week, which posed an unexpected challenge for the president just days before his address to Congress.

The president has also been dogged by his handling of classified documents after sensitive materials from his time as vice president were found at his Delaware home and a Washington, D.C., office he used from 2017 to 2019.

Additionally, Biden is taking jabs for the one thing that the White House is confident it can take a victory lap on: the economy. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a moderate Republican, on Sunday said that Biden will try to take credit for the economy in his State of the Union speech but argued the achievements of the administration are not impressive.

There are other accomplishments Biden may also pepper his big speech with. The president will likely point to the passage of a bill to fund semiconductor chip manufacturing domestically and of the Inflation Reduction Act, which funds green technology and caps health care costs. 

Biden also supported a bipartisan bill to curb gun violence, a measure to codify same-sex marriage and a bill to add benefits to protect veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. And lately, the president has been traveling to tout projects funded by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.

Tuesday will give Biden a major opportunity to dispel concerns about his ability to lead the country and to educate the public on what he’s actually done while in office, both of which will be key to boost momentum going into an eventual campaign announcement.

“When you’re sitting in the White House and you’re a year out from national elections, you understand that there’s no way this speech will be covered as anything other than an opening bid and argument for reelection,” said Patrick Gaspard, president of the Center for American Progress.

The White House believes it can draw a contrast between its own record and that of the relatively young House GOP majority, which thus far has announced plans to investigate Biden’s son Hunter Biden as well as the president’s handling of classified documents and his finances.

White House officials have been quick to pounce on Republican proposals to enact a national sales tax, something even Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) doesn’t support, as well as talk of reforming or cutting Social Security and Medicare, two popular government programs that benefit millions of seniors, a key voting bloc. Live coverage: Biden set to deliver State of the Union Online calculator converts air pollution index into number of cigarettes you’ve smoked

After Tuesday’s speech, Biden will head to Wisconsin to discuss his economic plan and Florida to talk about protecting Social Security and Medicare. Other administration officials will scatter around the country to highlight the Biden agenda this week, as well.

Democratic officials said after the State of the Union is when discussions will likely intensify about staffing and infrastructure for a Biden reelection bid. But Tuesday will give the president a chance to make the case to Americans that they’re better off than they were when he took office, a message that would likely be the backbone of his 2024 pitch, even if it doesn’t seem to have resonated with the public just yet, according to the recent polls.

“I think Joe Biden has been one of the most underrated leaders I have ever seen in my life,” said Tom Perez, former Democratic National Committee chairman and co-chair of American Bridge. 

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Utes’ Whittingham reenergized after ’24 free fall

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Utes' Whittingham reenergized after '24 free fall

FRISCO, Texas — A dynamic new quarterback, a new offensive system and two projected first-round picks up front have Utah coach Kyle Whittingham feeling enthusiastic about the Utes’ chances of bouncing back from a disastrous debut season in the Big 12.

Utah was voted No. 1 in the Big 12 preseason poll last year after joining from the Pac-12, but a brutal run of injuries and inconsistency resulted in a seven-game conference losing streak and a 5-7 finish — the program’s first losing season since 2013.

After weeks of contemplation about his future and what was best for the program, Whittingham, the third-longest-tenured head coach in FBS, decided in December to return for his 21st season with the Utes.

“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note,” Whittingham told ESPN at Big 12 media days Wednesday. “It was too frustrating, too disappointing. As much as college football has changed with all the other factors that might pull you away, that was the overriding reason: That’s not us, that’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”

“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note. It was too frustrating, too disappointing. … That’s not us. That’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham on going 5-7 in 2024

Whittingham and Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley conducted a national search for a new offensive coordinator and quickly zeroed in on New Mexico‘s Jason Beck. Then they managed to land Devon Dampier, Beck’s first-team All-Mountain West quarterback, via the transfer portal.

After finishing 11th nationally in total offense with 3,934 yards and 31 total touchdowns and putting up the fourth-most rushing yards (1,166) among all FBS starters, Dampier followed his coach to Salt Lake City and immediately asserted himself as a difference-maker for a program that had to start four different QBs in 2024.

“He’s a terrific athlete,” Whittingham said. “He’s a guy that, if spring is any indication, he’s an exciting player, and we can’t wait to watch him this season. … He’s got that ‘it’ factor. He’s a leader. Needless to say, very excited to see what he does for us.”

They’ve surrounded Dampier with 21 more newcomers via the transfer portal and will protect him with two returning starters at tackle in Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, who are projected first-round NFL draft picks by ESPN’s Matt Miller.

“We feel they’re the best tandem in the country,” Whittingham said. “The offensive line in general, I feel, it’s the best since I’ve been there. And that’s quite a statement. We’ve had some really good offensive lines. We’ve got two first-rounders and three seniors inside that have played a lot of good football for us. That better be a strength of ours, and that’s what we’re counting on.”

Whittingham has previously said he did not want to coach past the age of 65. Now that he’s 65, he acknowledges that he might’ve arrived at a different decision about his future had the Utes ended up winning the Big 12 in 2024. He is reenergized about getting them back into contention, but he’s not ready to say whether this season might be his last.

“The best answer I can give you is, right now, I’m excited and passionate about going to work every single day,” Whittingham said. “As soon as that changes, I’ll know it’s time. I’m just counting on knowing when the time is right. I can’t tell you exactly what the circumstances will be other than losing the fire in the belly.”

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MLB to utilize ABS challenge system during ASG

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MLB to utilize ABS challenge system during ASG

The automated ball-strike system is coming to the All-Star Game next week in Atlanta.

MLB officials added the feature to the annual exhibition game knowing it could be a precursor to becoming a permanent part of the major leagues as soon as next year.

The same process used this past spring training will be used for the Midsummer Classic: Each team will be given two challenges with the ability to retain them if successful. Only a pitcher, catcher or hitter can ask for a challenge and it has to happen almost immediately after the pitch. The player will tap his hat or helmet indicating to the umpire he wants to challenge while any help from the dugout or other players on the field is not allowed.

MLB officials say 72% of fans who were polled during spring training said the impact of ABS on their experience at the game was a “positive” one. Sixty-nine percent said they’d like it part of the game moving forward. Just 10% expressed negativity toward it.

MLB’s competition committee will meet later this summer to determine if ABS will be instituted next season after the league tested the robotic system throughout the minor leagues and spring training in recent years. Like almost any rule change, there were mixed reviews from players about using ABS but nearly all parties agree on one point: They prefer a challenge system as opposed to the technology calling every pitch.

As was the case in spring training, once a review is initiated, an animated replay of the pitch will be shown on the scoreboard and the home plate umpire will either uphold the call or overturn it. ABS uses Hawk-Eye system technology which tracks the pitch trajectory and location in relation to the strike zone, providing an instant assessment which can be relayed to the home plate umpire.

The All-Star Game will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday.

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Royals sign former Cy Young winner Keuchel

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Royals sign former Cy Young winner Keuchel

The Kansas City Royals have signed former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, the team announced Wednesday.

The 37-year-old left-hander will start at Triple-A Omaha and will earn a prorated $2 million salary if he reaches the big leagues, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Keuchel has not pitched in the majors for nearly a full calendar year. He elected to become a free agent on July 18, 2024, after being designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers.

In four starts with the Brewers last season, Keuchel had a 5.40 ERA in 16 2/3 innings without a decision. In 13 major league seasons, the 2015 American League Cy Young winner with the Houston Astros is 103-92 with a 4.04 ERA in 282 appearances (267 starts).

After pitching his first seven seasons with the Astros, Keuchel has made appearances for six different teams since 2019. He won a World Series with Houston in 2017 and is a two-time All-Star selection and five-time Gold Glove winner.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.

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