In a bid to highlight her husband's commitment to veterans and military families, Jill Biden has kicked off President Joe Biden's outreach campaign during a tour through critical battleground states. This move comes as the Biden team aims to shift the narrative away from the recent calls for the Democratic incumbent to drop out of the presidential race after a challenging debate performance against Donald Trump.

During her stops in Wilmington, North Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Columbus, Georgia, the first lady announced the formation of Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris. These states were chosen due to their significant populations of veterans and military families.

The day-long tour by Jill Biden is part of a larger effort by the Biden camp to recover from the president's lackluster performance against Trump in last month's debate. Some House Democrats and other critics had called on Biden to withdraw from the race, citing concerns about the 81-year-old president's capability to defeat Trump both mentally and physically. However, Biden has remained resolute in his decision to continue his campaign.

To engage and mobilize millions of veterans and military families across the country to vote for Biden, the campaign has formed this new group. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden's campaign manager, expressed the importance of having a commander in chief who respects the bravery of service members and understands their sacrifices instead of belittling them. This statement referred to reports that Trump allegedly referred to fallen service members as "suckers" and "losers" during a trip to France in 2018. Trump has vehemently denied making such comments.

Biden's late son Beau, who was a member of the Delaware Army National Guard, served in Iraq. Additionally, Jill Biden's father was a Navy signalman during World War II. During the debate, Biden and Trump clashed over who has the best interest of veterans at heart. Biden emphasized his recent visit to an American military cemetery in France, which Trump skipped during his 2018 trip.

Trump used the debate platform to criticize Biden, accusing him of focusing more on migrants than on the needs of veterans and service members. Trump also blamed Biden for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. In response, the Biden campaign pointed out that the president expanded benefits for veterans affected by toxic exposures, implemented a strategy to reduce veteran suicide, and provided support for caregivers. It was also noted that over $1 billion has been awarded in 2023 to aid homeless veterans.

In addition to this initiative, Jill Biden leads a White House program called Joining Forces, which focuses on assisting military spouses in securing and retaining federal government jobs, making childcare more affordable and accessible for military families, and supporting those who care for veterans.

By launching Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris, Jill Biden aims to reinforce her husband's commitment to those who have served and their families, while contrasting with Trump's alleged derogatory remarks about fallen service members. As the campaign intensifies, both candidates will continue to highlight their dedication to the well-being of the military community.