Vulnerable Democrats want Biden's State of the Union to focus on border and economy

The political fate of many Democrats on Capitol Hill - especially those in competitive races this fall - could be tied to President Biden's this November.

That's why they want him to use his State of the Union address, when millions will be tuning in, to showcase the economic progress he's made in his first term, and explain how he'll build on it with our more years in the White House.

Rep. Dina Titus told NPR she wants the President to point to specific things he got done.

"Don't talk about infrastructure. Talk about the street in my district," she said. Titus represents a purple Nevada seat and wants the president to remind people that the economy is doing better because of his policies. "Las Vegas is the fastest recovering place in the country and we were the hardest hit. So we need to remind people we're working now . You've got health care. Things are moving - we're getting the speed train to southern California."

Last year Biden energized Democrats by getting into a back and forth with Republicans about protecting Social Security. Pennsylvania Democrat Matt Cartwright represents Scranton, Pennsylvania - where Biden grew up —and hopes he'll go off script again.

"He needs to get his Irish up the way he did last year," Cartwright told NPR. He pushed back at the president's handlers who want to keep him on message and said they shouldn't be worried about any gaffes. "The gaffes are already baked into his numbers, and they have been for decades."

Border and the economy are key issues for purple district Democrats

Cartwright says the economy is improving, and that's proof Biden's policies are working. He thinks that's the reason why voters tell him the border is now their top concern.

"They're starting to realize the