🎯 Axios PM: Biden digs in

Plus: Pools take a dive | Wednesday, July 03, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Jul 03, 2024 Good afternoon, and happy July 4 Getaway Day. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 529 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: "I am running"   Data: New York Times/Siena Poll; Chart: Rahul Mukherjee/Axios President Biden defied calls to drop out of the race today, despite growing anxieties within his party and among voters. "I am running. I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out," Biden said on a conference call with campaign staff. Yes, but: Majorities of every demographic group, including people planning to vote for Biden, say he's too old to be effective, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released this afternoon. Former President Trump now leads Biden by 6 percentage points in that poll, a 3-point gain since the debate. A new Wall Street Journal poll also shows a 6-point lead for Trump, with 80% saying Biden is too old. 🗣️ Democrats in Congress increasingly feel the same way. A "very broad swath of the House Democratic caucus representing diverse ideology, geography and backgrounds ... believes that a change in candidacy is necessary," one House Democrat told Axios' Andrew Solender. 🎤 What's next: Biden acknowledged to a key ally that he may not be able to stay in the race if he cannot turn things around soon, NYT reported. The president and his allies are pinning their hopes on a Friday interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos and upcoming campaign stops. "I'm in this race to the end, and we're going to win," Biden said on the call. "Just as we beat Donald Trump in 2020, we're going to beat him again in 2024."     2. 🚗 Relief for holiday gas prices   Data: U.S. Department of Energy; Chart: Axios Visuals Gas prices over the July Fourth weekend will be lower than in the past several years, Axios Kelly Tyko reports. The national average sits at $3.51 per gallon, down from $3.54 a year ago and $4.79 during the holiday weekend in 2022, according to AAA data. ⛽️ Nearly 61 million people will travel by car this weekend, according to AAA's holiday forecast — a new record. Go deeper.     A message from Amazon Amazon's suite of services helps small businesses thrive     Jarred and Brandon Smith are using Amazon's services, like Fulfillment by Amazon and Subscribe and Save, to grow their energy drink empire, NOOMA. More info: "The great thing about Amazon is it's a la carte," Jarred Smith says. "It's easy to pick what works best for us." Find out more.     3. Catch me up   A helicopter surveys the scene yesterday as the Thompson Fire burns in Oroville, Calif. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images 🔥 "Life-threatening heat" will persist in California for up to two weeks. The heat wave has already caused wildfires, and it's now shaping up to be more intense and longer lasting than expected. Go deeper. 📱 Threads — Meta's answer to Twitter — has amassed more than 175 million "monthly actives" since launching a year ago. Go deeper. ⚖️ A federal judge blocked a Biden administration rule that says doctors and insurance companies cannot discriminate against patients because of their gender identity. Go deeper.     4. 🏊‍♀️ Pools dry up   Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios   Americans just aren't building pools like they used to, Axios Macro co-author Courtenay Brown reports. ⛱️ Just 60,000 residential, in-ground pools will be constructed this year, one research firm estimates — half as many as in 2021. If the market continues to weaken, it could sink even lower than the nadir it hit during the housing crisis in 2009. 👙 The intrigue: Higher-end pools with fancy waterfalls or decorative tiling are selling fine. It's demand for low-end pools that is slowing. One reason: High-end pool buyers tend to pay in cash. Lower-end pools are more likely to be financed, and high interest rates have made that less palatable. Dive deeper.     A message from Amazon Amazon helps small businesses grow     When Daniel and Eileen started their local houseplant business, they struggled to find customers. Amazon's marketing tools helped them grow their business beyond their hometown of Apopka, Florida. Key number: More than 60% of sales in Amazon's store come from independent sellers. Learn more.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Advertise with us. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: