{"id":2230705,"date":"2024-04-26T06:34:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T10:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pining-for-pennsylvania-how-us-steel-acquisition-could-cost-biden-in-2024-election\/"},"modified":"2024-04-26T06:41:24","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T10:41:24","slug":"pining-for-pennsylvania-how-us-steel-acquisition-could-cost-biden-in-2024-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pining-for-pennsylvania-how-us-steel-acquisition-could-cost-biden-in-2024-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Longing for Pennsylvania: Impact of US Steel Acquisition on Biden in 2024 Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpining-for-pennsylvania-how-us-steel-acquisition-could-cost-biden-in-2024-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2230705&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u2063acquisition of U.S.\u2064 Steel by Nippon Steel is a significant\u2062 factor in Pennsylvania&#8217;s 2024 \u200belection landscape. The deal&#8217;s impact on the regional economy and political narratives, including responses from Trump and Biden, adds complexity to the \u200dbattleground state scenario, making it a crucial element in understanding the upcoming election dynamics. The acquisition of\u2064 U.S. \u200dSteel \u2064by Nippon Steel plays a \u200dmajor role \u2064in Pennsylvania&#8217;s 2024 election\u200c dynamics. Its effects on the \u2062local economy, political\u2064 dialogues, and reactions from Trump and\u200b Biden contribute to the intricacies of the battleground state, shaping the narrative for \u200bthe upcoming election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em>Pennsylvania is the ultimate battleground for 2024, with the White House, Senate, and House all poised to flip based on how voters here cast their ballots. In this series,<strong> Pining for Pennsylvania: Unlocking the crucial Keystone State<\/strong>, the <\/em>Washington Examiner<em> will look at the demographics, politics, and key areas that have made Pennsylvania the must-watch state of the year.\u00a0Part seven, below, looks at how the sale of an iconic steel company is factoring into the presidential race.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japanese company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/2868323\/us-steel-stronger-more-agile-if-nippon-deal-goes-through\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Nippon Steel\">Nippon Steel<\/a> is looming large over western <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Pennsylvania\">Pennsylvania<\/a>, an essential voting bloc in the pivotal swing state heading into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"2024 general election\">2024 general election<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>The quintessential American steel company, based in Pittsburgh, is a dominating economic and cultural force in the region, and the acquisition could shake voter confidence depending upon what actions the Biden administration takes to mitigate the potentially negative consequences for the regional economy.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Steel<a href=\"https:\/\/investors.ussteel.com\/news-events\/news-releases\/detail\/659\/nippon-steel-corporation-nsc-to-acquire-u-s-steel\"> announced<\/a> the international acquisition in December, with the deal expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2024 pending the approval of shareholders. Earlier this month, the shareholders overwhelmingly voted in support of the acquisition, valued at approximately $14.1 billion.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>President Joe Biden speaks at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Melinda Ciccocioppo stands behind the president holding a sign saying \u201cStanding with Workers.\u201d (AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Executive power to thwart the acquisition<\/h2>\n<p>Both former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> and President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Joe Biden\">Joe Biden<\/a> have sharply criticized the acquisition and supported increasing tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum as an effort to protect domestic manufacturing jobs. <\/p>\n<p>Trump said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/01\/31\/trump-us-steel-sale-00138910\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"January\">January<\/a> that the acquisition was \u201cso terrible\u201d and that he would \u201cblock it instantaneously\u201d if he were in Biden\u2019s shoes.<\/p>\n<p>Biden pledged that U.S. Steel would remain \u201cAmerican-owned, American-operated by American union steelworkers\u201d to supporters at an invitation-only event last week at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/2969043\/biden-calls-for-tripling-chinese-steel-tariffs-courting-pennsylvania-union-workers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"United Steelworkers\">United Steelworkers<\/a> building in downtown Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n<p>At the event, Biden also announced plans to triple existing steel tariffs on China. Trump, by contrast, has supported raising steel and aluminum tariffs on all importers across the board by 10%, which is estimated to shrink the economy by 1.1% if implemented.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.pitt.edu\/people\/john-linarelli\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"John Linarelli\">John Linarelli<\/a>, Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law specializing in comparative commercial law, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Biden has mirrored Trump\u2019s nativist industrial policy, signaling that the bases of both parties have shifted away from the zeal for free trade at the beginning of the 21st century.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an interesting time because in the \u201990s, in the early 2000s, it was all focused on open trade, open borders, everybody\u2019s getting better off, and we\u2019re sort of retracting from this and trying to retool our trade relationships and our laws,\u201d Linarelli said. \u201cThere\u2019s much more state direction in the economy to kind of support state success in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/eu-charts-course-to-de-risk-from-china-despite-desire-for-autonomy-from-us\/\" title=\"EU seeks to reduce dependence on China while maintaining independence from the US.\">key technological sectors<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, a branch of the Treasury Department, is reviewing the details of the acquisition to ensure that the deal would be within U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congressional-war-vets-warn-biden-against-shuttering-gitmo\/\" title=\"Congressional War Vets Warn Biden Against Shuttering Gitmo\">national security interests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>What constitutes national security interests has steadily expanded under both the Trump and Biden administrations to include economic and technological security. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not political. It\u2019s a standard that has to be applied,\u201d Linarelli said, noting that neither Biden nor Trump could manipulate the committee\u2019s rules entirely to their whim. \u201c[The committee] hasn\u2019t gone outside of its statutory bounds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nippon\u2019s acquisition agreement with U.S. Steel also needs to be approved by the Justice Department to ensure that it is not violating any other antitrust legislation.<\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s the economy, stupid<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/susquehannapolling.com\/about-us-2\/james-lee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"James Lee \">James Lee <\/a>of Susquehanna Polling and Research, based in the Keystone State\u2019s capital city of Harrisburg, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the issue could be leveraged by either candidate to secure a victory in the western counties of Pennsylvania, but Trump is so far doing significantly better than Biden in courting the region.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe optics of this are that this happened on Biden\u2019s watch,\u201d Lee said. \u201cI think anything like this really adds salt to the wound and probably benefits Trump more than Biden.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The acquisition could affect western Pennsylvania more than any other area in the state not only because of regional pride in the steel industry but also because voters there are more sensitive to economic shifts than in any other part of the state.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJobs and the economy always ranked No. 1 as the most important issue facing Southwestern Pennsylvania, higher than any other issue. When we poll in other areas of the state, we don\u2019t see that same dynamic,\u201d Lee said. \u201cI think there you could see a real rebound effect from voters at the polls.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>FILE \u2013 U.S. Steel\u2019s Mon Valley Works Clairton Plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, is shown on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. U.S. (AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Key to the Keystone State<\/h2>\n<p>Swing voters in the southwest of Pennsylvania tend to be culturally conservative Democrats who keep electing Republicans as the national party moves further progressive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are Western Pennsylvanians who grew up in Democratic families, registered Democratic because of ties to the steel or coal or labor markets \u2026 but grew up believing in God, country, and guns,\u201d Lee wrote in a <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpennsylvania.com\/articles\/2024\/04\/03\/is_trump_really_leading_in_battleground_pennsylvania_1022895.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Real Clear Politics\">RealClearPolitics<\/a><\/em>  article earlier this month following recent polling showing Trump in a slight lead in the region.<\/p>\n<p>Lee told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>that even noncommitted voters in the western portion of the state are \u201cvery, very vulnerable to conspiracy theories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Trump dynamic is very powerful out there,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n<p>Voter turnout for all of western Pennsylvania, from Lake Erie to the southern border with West Virginia, is consistently higher than counties in the center and east of the state, making the region an important stronghold for the Trump campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Although the former president is not out-performing his 2016 numbers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/docs\/2024\/Toplines-PAStatewide-Omnibus-March2024-Public.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"in polls\">in polls<\/a> in the western counties against his former challenger, Hillary Clinton, Trump is still leading the region except for in Allegheny County, which is dominated by an increasingly left-leaning city center.<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not western Pennsylvania will be enough to counteract Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/2977839\/pining-for-pennsylvania-trumps-philadelphia-suburban-problem-lingers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>poor showing<\/a> in the suburban counties surrounding Philadelphia will be a decisive factor in the general election. The degree to which the Nippon acquisition will galvanize this key group of voters also remains to be seen. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think you have necessarily clear-cut winners and losers on this issue,\u201d Lee said. \u201cIs this a single-issue vote? It\u2019s hard to really determine whether an issue like this will be top of mind for people when they cast their ballots in November because it\u2019s hard to see how it\u2019s going to play out over the intervening months.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Feelings on the ground<\/h2>\n<p>Prominent local Democrat<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kellianne-frketic-276489116\/\"> Kellianne Frketic<\/a> told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that she was disappointed Biden did not spend more time at the USW event this month directly addressing the acquisition because of how important U.S. Steel is to the identity of the region.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought he\u2019d talk a little bit more about it,\u201d Frketic said immediately following Biden\u2019s April 17 speech. \u201cMy personal opinion is that I think it should stay in U.S. hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Frketic is running for local office in Elizabeth Township, a mill town in Allegheny County less than 10 miles from the U.S. Steel Clariton Mill Works plant along the Monongahela River. She said that residents in her community deeply care about U.S. Steel staying American-owned and operated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that the people around the mills want to keep it here,\u201d Frketic said. \u201cThat\u2019s the consensus I get from whenever I talk to folks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When asked, Pittsburgh-based supporters of the president invited to represent union interests at the event told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Biden\u2019s legacy as the most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/labor-board-dismisses-union-misconduct-complaints-following-biden-purge\/\" title=\"Labor Board Dismisses Union Misconduct Complaints Following Biden Purge\">pro-union president<\/a> in U.S. history would carry him with workers in the region despite the acquisition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBiden has a better track record with labor and working on behalf of organizing, which is good for workers,\u201d said<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychology.pitt.edu\/people\/melinda-ciccocioppo\"> Melinda Ciccocioppo<\/a>, a professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh who attended the event. \u201cIf workers are concerned about that, Biden has clearly demonstrated a better track record.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the pivotal 2024 election battleground of Pennsylvania, the fate of the White House, Senate, and House hangs on voter decisions. The series &#8220;Pining for Pennsylvania&#8221; by the Washington Examiner delves into the demographics, politics, and vital areas shaping Pennsylvania as the state to watch<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2666,"featured_media":2230706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24108728726378-1-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2230705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24108728726378-1-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2666"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2230705"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230705\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2230706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2230705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2230705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2230705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}