Jeff Mason, Nandita Bose

PORTLAND (Ore.) – President Joe Biden predicted Thursday that his fellow Democrats would win two additional U.S. Senate seat in November’s midterms. This will strengthen the party’s majority and allow him to push his agenda despite his low approval rating.

Biden spoke at an event in Portland, Oregon during his first visit to the Pacific Northwest after taking office.

Biden stated to the donors, “I am determined to ensure we keep the House as well as the Senate,” He did not predict the outcome of the party’s chances in the House.

Low poll numbers have been attributed to Biden by high inflation and an ongoing pandemic. There are concerns that Democrats could lose control of Congress and the Senate to Republicans in November.

Attended an evening fundraiser in Seattle hosted by Brad Smith. Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ) – Biden commented on the clash between Republican State Legislatures in Florida, and the Walt Disney Co. over legislation restricting the teaching of LGBTQ topics in schools.

The state’s Republican-controlled legislature on Thursday voted to strip Disney of its self-governing authority on lands occupied by its Orlando theme parks in retaliation for Disney’s opposition to the school restrictions, derided by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Expect Governor Ron DeSantis to sign the bill. He is a likely 2024 Republican presidential candidate who backs banning classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity for children younger than 9.

Biden claimed that Republican-led measures to place such restrictions on the government “have nothing to be done with traditional conservative doctrine”.

I respect conservatives. It’s not conservative to decide you want to get rid of Disney because Mickey Mouse…should…not be able, you know… gay.”

Biden was speaking earlier Thursday to praise his administration for its progress in infrastructure. This included the new spending enabled by the approximately $1 trillion infrastructure law, which also includes broadband investments and highways. It allocates $1.2 million for Oregon, and $8.6 for Washington.

Biden spoke at Portland’s airport about how to invest in runways that are resilient to earthquakes.

His visit to Seattle was set for Thursday and Friday. He will be there to observe Earth Day, and to talk about the plans of his administration to curb inflation.

Biden declared in an earlier address that “We’re here to talk about investments which we’re making for modernizing this airport.” So through the bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $25 billion will be invested to modernize and upgrade American airports.

In recent weeks, White House officials stated that they want to change their outreach strategy towards voters and visit more states in order to highlight the accomplishments of the administration rather than describe the necessity for legislation to be passed.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, Biden has a 43% public approval rating. In the wake of Ukraine’s invasion and high inflation, 51% disapproved of Biden’s work performance.

Compare this to the approval ratings that hovered above 50% at his first term.