Biden State of the Union address likely boosted Democrats' 2024 confidence - NPR

He struck notes of his traditional unity message, pledging to work with the new Republican House leadership and touting his legislative accomplishments in the past year, but Biden also laid out an Average Joe America vision for 2024 chock full of poll-tested, middle-of-the-road issues, as well as a healthy dose of left-wing populism.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks after President Joe Biden delivered the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks after President Joe Biden delivered the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington.

It's precisely the look Biden and Democrats wanted to put on display for what will likely be the largest television audience the president will speak to this year ahead of his expected 2024 reelection announcement.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, R-Ark., speaks while delivering the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union address, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Little Rock, Ark.

"[A]fter years of Democrat attacks on law enforcement and calls to 'Defund the Police,' violent criminals roam free, while law-abiding families live in fear," Sanders said.