"president Joe Biden State of the Union Address: A Campaign Kickoff Speech That Doubled as a Media Moment"

Biden's State of the Union Address: A Campaign Kickoff Speech That Doubled as a Media Moment

Seizing one of his biggest media moments ahead of the election in November, President Biden delivered a State of the Union address on Thursday that doubled as a campaign kickoff speech, presenting himself to Americans as a still-feisty leader prepared for the rigor of a grueling campaign.

Whether his pitch resonates with voters remains to be seen, but plenty tuned in to see what he was offering.

**Record-Breaking Audience**

About 32.2 million people tuned in live to watch Mr. Biden's speech, up 18 percent from last year's audience of 27.3 million, the ratings agency Nielsen said on Friday. This 66-minute-long appearance was Mr. Biden's second-most-watched speech to Congress, and his next opportunity to command such a large audience is likely to be the presidential debates scheduled for the fall.

**Cable and Broadcast Networks**

Fox News attracted 5.8 million viewers on Thursday, the largest live audience of any network. ABC was watched by about 5.2 million people, leading the three biggest broadcasters. NBC was the top-ranked network among viewers ages 25 to 54, the most important demographic for advertisers in the TV news industry.

**President Joe Biden's Media Cocoon**

Aides to Mr. Biden appear to be gradually letting him out of a media cocoon after allies raised concerns about his limited public appearances. In particular, a decision by the White House to skip a traditional interview ahead of the Super Bowl set off alarm bells in Democratic circles.

**Campaign Stops and Interviews**

The president is now embarking on a series of campaign stops, including an interview with Jonathan Capehart, a left-leaning host and commentator on MSNBC. The interview will be Mr. Biden's first with a major television network since he spoke with Scott Pelley of CBS News in October.

**Conclusion**

As the 2024 election draws near, President Biden's State of the Union address has served as a reminder of his campaign-style rhetoric and his determination to engage with the American people. With a record-breaking audience and a renewed focus on media appearances, Mr. Biden appears to be gearing up for a grueling campaign season ahead.