Biden tries sunny message, but Trump signals 2024 comeback

Former US president Barack Obama makes campaign stop in Pennsylvania on November 2, 2022

US President Joe Biden had an upbeat message in California but polls show Democrats headed for a drubbing

An "optimistic" President Joe Biden insisted on Friday that Democrats would win next week's midterm elections but polls showed Republicans likely to deliver a drubbing, spurring Donald Trump to signal plans for a White House comeback bid.

At a communications company in San Diego, Biden highlighted his successes in passing legislation to pour federal funding into semiconductors and other high-tech industries, as well as strong employment figures.

"Our best days are ahead of us, they're not behind us," he said.

However, polls show Republicans poised for potentially heavy victories in Tuesday's congressional election, hoping to win control not only in the House of Representatives but the Senate.

Trump, who has championed a widespread, far-right conspiracy theory that he really beat Biden in 2020, sent his strongest signal so far that he's planning a comeback bid.

"Get ready. That's all I'm telling you. Very soon. Get ready. Get ready," he said.

That, however, is likely to depend on how well the right-wing candidates promoted by Trump do on Tuesday. Another factor in play is the threat hanging over Trump from an investigation into his hoarding of top secret documents at his Florida golf resort -- and potential indictment on serious criminal charges.

- 'I've got a plan' -

Strategists from both parties are seeing districts across New York, Oregon and Connecticut that went for Biden by double digits in 2020 coming back into play. 

The White House did get some good news Friday, with official figures for October showing the economy added 261,000 jobs and unemployment at low levels.

"They want to increase prescription drug costs, health insurance costs and energy costs, while giving more tax breaks to big corporations and the very wealthy."

It was a notable snub of Fetterman's Republican rival, celebrity surgeon Mehmet Oz, who rose to fame largely through appearances on Winfrey's show. 

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