President Joe Biden touted his administration's investment in manufacturing during a visit to a semiconductor plant on Tuesday, and said MAGA Republicans wanted to let China take the lead in key technologies by cutting funding.

He kicked off a three-week swing through key battleground states by senior officials as they do battle with Republicans who want to cut spending to rein in the national debt.

'MAGA Republicans in Congress all want to cut the Chips and Science Act, stripping our investments in next generation science and technology like bio manufacturing, quantum computing, and molecular electronics,' he told workers and VIPs gathered in Durham, North Carolina.

He may not have declared that he is running for reelection, but Biden's trip to North Carolina looks and sounds like a campaign stop.

He arrived at Wolfspeed, an expanding semiconductor manufacturing plant in Durham, after urging Congress once again to pass gun reform as he left the White House in the morning.

And he referred to the shooting as he began his speech before pivoting to the reason for his visit. 

He described the action his administration took during the pandemic, when the US realized how reliant it was on foreign supply chains for things like computer chipis. 

'It's all part of my agenda to invest in America, American jobs, American innovation, pride in our country, dignity for workers and their families.

'But unfortunately, extreme MAGA Republicans not all but extreme MAGA Republicans are threatening to undo all this progress.'

The backdrop was carefully chosen to reflect progress. Wolfspeed announced in September plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Chatham County that is expected to create 1,800 jobs. 

The visit is part of a three-week push involving other senior administration figures to spotlight legislation that has boosted the economy, contrasting Biden's plan with that of Republicans as they tussle over budget priorities.