"Key Issues Influencing the Ultra-Close US Presidential Election: Inflation and Immigration"

Kim Dong-seok KACG CEO Meeting
Biden Faces War, Trump Stumbles Over Judicial Risks

"The economy and illegal immigration issues will be the major factors deciding the outcome of the extremely close U.S. presidential election this November."

Kim Dong-seok, president of the Korean American Voters Coalition (KAGC), stated this on the 24th (local time) during a New York correspondent meeting held at the Fort Lee office in New Jersey. He said, "The economy, especially the inflation issue, will influence voters' decisions in this election."

Since the 1992 Los Angeles (LA) riots, Kim has been involved in Washington politics for over 30 years by mobilizing Korean political power to influence the U.S. Congress. He led efforts such as the passage of the U.S. House resolution on Japanese military comfort women.

He said, "The issue of numerous refugees trying to cross the border is also a key topic," adding, "Recently, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to strengthen border control, which is a measure taken in response to Americans' concerns about having to spend taxpayers' money to accommodate refugees." He explained that as negative perceptions about the surge in illegal immigration spread and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump intensified his attacks, President Biden, who found himself on the defensive, is making a 'right turn' in immigration policy.

Kim Dong-seok, Representative of the Korean American Grassroots Coalition (KAGC)

With just over four months remaining until the U.S. presidential election, the race is extremely close and unpredictable. Kim assessed that for President Biden, the war is a 'thorn under the fingernail,' and for former President Trump, judicial risks are the same.

Kim said, "President Biden has been disadvantaged on economic issues such as inflation due to the Ukraine war," "and as the Israel-Palestine conflict prolongs and the U.S. supports Israel, there is a phenomenon of declining support for President Biden, especially among younger voters." He noted that with the Biden administration expanding U.S. involvement to two fronts, former President Trump is directly criticizing Biden's weak leadership for exacerbating global instability.

On the other hand, Kim viewed that former President Trump is being hampered by judicial risks. He said, "The guilty verdict last month regarding hush money related to Trump's sexual misconduct scandal is a significant turning point for President Biden," adding, "Recent polls show a trend where President Biden is catching up to or slightly leading former President Trump by 1 to 2 percentage points."

Kim evaluated that the recent defection of Black and Hispanic voters, traditionally Democratic bases, in battleground states that will decide the U.S. presidential election results is a considerable warning sign for President Biden.

Kim said, "Both President Biden and former President Trump are focusing less on stealing each other's support in battleground states and more on causing the other's support to decline," adding, "If the support of Black and Hispanic voters for President Biden drops by just 5 to 10% in battleground states, it could be fatal. As President Biden adopts right-wing policies, there are even calls within the Democratic Party to replace the candidate."