President Biden traveled to a truck components manufacturing unit in Hagerstown Friday to mark Nationwide Manufacturing Day, utilizing the event to tout his report on jobs and the economic system, bash Republicans, and prop up the state’s solely weak Democratic congressman.

Biden’s speech lacked the hearth of his final look in Maryland, a full-on political rally in Rockville six weeks in the past. However after touring the Volvo USA Group plant in Hagerstown, the place engines, transmissions and axels are constructed for Mack vans, the president tried to attain political factors on the economic system and warned {that a} Republican takeover of Congress may stall the progress the nation has made underneath his administration and be a catastrophe for the monetary safety of on a regular basis People. He asserted that inflation would worsen underneath the GOP, “hitting each kitchen desk price,” and that Republicans will as soon as once more search to undertake “trickle-down” financial insurance policies.

“On the subject of the following Congress, this isn’t a referendum,” Biden stated. “It’s a alternative. It’s a alternative between two drastically totally different views of the economic system.”

The president spoke a couple of broad vary of measures which have develop into legislation throughout his presidency, to spice up infrastructure tasks, jump-start the clear power economic system, cut back prescription drug costs, and enhance authorities spending for psychological well being applications, amongst others. He was disdainful of Republicans who label his initiatives “socialism” however then search funding for his or her states and districts by way of the applications he’s created.

However as a lot as something, Biden’s look was a rally for a resurgent U.S. manufacturing economic system — which, he stated, has been aided significantly by organized labor.

Biden stated that of the ten million jobs which were created since he took workplace in January 2021, 638,000 have been within the manufacturing sector.

“That is Nationwide Manufacturing Day,” he stated. “It’s beginning to imply one thing. The place is written that America can’t be the chief in manufacturing once more?”

In keeping with a White Home pool report, as Biden toured the manufacturing unit, which employs 1,700 individuals — 1,300 of whom belong to 2 totally different United Autoworkers union locals — staff defined how numerous components which might be manufactured on the plant function. Biden instructed them that the meeting line was “wonderful” and represents the way forward for manufacturing.

Biden additionally famous the massive photo voltaic array exterior the plant, which, in line with Volvo officers, generates about 13% of the ability the manufacturing unit must function.

Earlier than he spoke, climbing a riser to the strains of “Hail to the Chief,” Biden obtained an effusive introduction from Sam Leedy, a fabric handler who has labored on the plant for 2 dozen years. Leedy stated his profession with Volvo has given his household financial safety and a ticket to the center class, regardless of the modifications and challenges the manufacturing sector has confronted through the years.

“I’m grateful for Volvo USA and my union for good paying jobs,” he stated.

Leedy added that he and his co-workers take pleasure within the work they do.

“I really like seeing all these Macks once I go down the freeway,” he stated. “I do know their energy trains are constructed right here in Hagerstown and I do know it’s top quality.”

And of Biden, Leedy stated, “It makes a distinction to have a president who’s pro-union and pro-jobs.”

The politics of the sixth District

As a lot as something, Biden’s look in Hagerstown appeared gift-wrapped for U.S. Rep. David Trone (D), who faces a troublesome political local weather as he seeks a 3rd time period. Trone is among the wealthiest members of Congress and a beneficiant donor to Democratic candidates and causes; earlier this yr, Biden headlined a fundraiser for the Democratic Nationwide Committee at Trone’s house.

Trone rode with Biden to Hagerstown on Air Power One (a visit that took about 25 minutes from Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County), and launched Biden to Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller and different native dignitaries when the aircraft landed in Hagerstown.

Biden stated Trone is “all the time, all the time working for the working individuals of his district,” and stated that due to the congressman’s work, Interstate 81 in Western Maryland could be widened and improved.

Trone credited Biden’s infrastructure initiative for offering funding that can allow the state to widen the interstate, and he stated that most of the administration’s accomplishments received’t be felt till years from now.

“We don’t see it but,” Trone stated. “We don’t see the brand new roads and hospitals, the decrease well being care prices. But it surely’s all coming.”

In a tossup district, Trone preached bipartisanship, which he known as “so necessary.” And he stated Biden, regardless of his partisan broadsides, believes in it, too.

“He’s demonstrated competence, civility and compassion,” Trone stated. “President Biden is placing individuals over politics.”

Keller, a Democrat although the mayor is chosen in a nonpartisan election, additionally heaped reward on Trone.

“He’s no secret right here, as a result of he’s right here on a regular basis,” she stated.

In keeping with Trone’s official schedule, the congressman is scheduled to return to Hagerstown on Monday to debate legal justice reform with former U.S. Home Speaker Paul Ryan — a Republican — and will probably be again Wednesday to tour two psychological well being amenities.

Shortly earlier than Biden’s look in Hagerstown, Trone’s challenger, Del. Neil Parrott (R-Washington), sought to attain some political factors of his personal.

“Will the President and @davidjtrone converse (or, apologize) to our voters right this moment about plans to double the IRS with 87k new brokers?” he wrote on Twitter. “Or the brand new 10-year quota for the IRS to gather $58 Trillion from onerous working American households & companies?”

A day earlier, on Twitter, Parrott wrote: “President Biden is coming to the sixth district of MD as a result of Democrats assume @davidjtrone would possibly lose this election. They’re proper to be involved, the individuals of MD-6 are bored with paying extra for the whole lot due to Dems trillion greenback spending sprees.”

Though Trone could have been the political focus of Biden’s look, because of Hagerstown’s proximity within the Western Maryland panhandle and the probability that Volvo’s workforce lives in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia along with Maryland, it’s a protected guess that Biden’s political message was amplified past the sixth District.