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| Biden and Obama Reunite in a Last-Ditch Effort to Save Their Party | Biden and Obama Reunite in a Last-Ditch Effort to Save Their Party |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| CHICAGO — There was a time not that long ago when Joseph R. Biden Jr. could go where Barack Obama could not, an emissary to parts of the country not exactly gushing over the 44th president. Now the tables are turned and it is Mr. Obama who jets from one battleground state to the next while the 46th president sticks largely to safe blue areas where he is still welcome. | CHICAGO — There was a time not that long ago when Joseph R. Biden Jr. could go where Barack Obama could not, an emissary to parts of the country not exactly gushing over the 44th president. Now the tables are turned and it is Mr. Obama who jets from one battleground state to the next while the 46th president sticks largely to safe blue areas where he is still welcome. |
| After weeks of never crossing paths on the trail, the two presidents finally were set to meet up on Saturday for their first joint campaign appearance since Mr. Biden took office. The two Democrats planned to team up in a last-ditch effort to save their party’s midterm election hopes at a rally in Philadelphia, showcasing the disparate approaches, histories and roles of the onetime running mates in a moment of political peril. | |
| Mr. Obama, the urbane soaring orator from Hawaii, and Mr. Biden, the backslapping blue-collar pol from Delaware, have always been a political odd couple, born of different generations, demographics and mentalities. For years in the White House, they sought the same goals with contrasting methods amid periodic tension. But now they come to this point in their relationship with Mr. Biden reliant on his former running mate to validate his own presidency and persuade the country to embrace his leadership. | Mr. Obama, the urbane soaring orator from Hawaii, and Mr. Biden, the backslapping blue-collar pol from Delaware, have always been a political odd couple, born of different generations, demographics and mentalities. For years in the White House, they sought the same goals with contrasting methods amid periodic tension. But now they come to this point in their relationship with Mr. Biden reliant on his former running mate to validate his own presidency and persuade the country to embrace his leadership. |
| “It’ll be very interesting to see them together because so far we’ve only seen them campaign separately,” said Gabriel Debenedetti, the author of “The Long Alliance,” a new book on the partnership between Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama. “Not only are their styles different, but their messages are different, too.” | “It’ll be very interesting to see them together because so far we’ve only seen them campaign separately,” said Gabriel Debenedetti, the author of “The Long Alliance,” a new book on the partnership between Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama. “Not only are their styles different, but their messages are different, too.” |
| Indeed, Mr. Obama, with his preacher-like cadences, talks about the deeper mood of the country at this juncture in history, his voice rising an octave as he skewers what he sees as the opposition’s hypocrisy and shallowness. Mr. Biden speaks like a veteran senator offering a staccato, meat-and-potatoes recitation of this bill he passed or that order he signed, and how he expects his policies to help families get through the day with more money in their pockets. | |
| Whether poetic or prosaic, though, each addresses in his own way the threat they see in a passel of election deniers loyal to former President Donald J. Trump taking power in next week’s election. As a former president, Mr. Obama feels freer to wage a frontal assault, using Mr. Trump’s name a half-dozen times in a speech. As the incumbent, Mr. Biden holds back somewhat, referring to “my predecessor” or “the former president” without naming Mr. Trump directly even as he makes the same points. | Whether poetic or prosaic, though, each addresses in his own way the threat they see in a passel of election deniers loyal to former President Donald J. Trump taking power in next week’s election. As a former president, Mr. Obama feels freer to wage a frontal assault, using Mr. Trump’s name a half-dozen times in a speech. As the incumbent, Mr. Biden holds back somewhat, referring to “my predecessor” or “the former president” without naming Mr. Trump directly even as he makes the same points. |
| As they have hit the campaign trail, they have both been a little rusty since they largely stayed out of public amid the Covid-19 pandemic during the 2020 election. At his stops, Mr. Obama acknowledges being a little out of shape politically. | As they have hit the campaign trail, they have both been a little rusty since they largely stayed out of public amid the Covid-19 pandemic during the 2020 election. At his stops, Mr. Obama acknowledges being a little out of shape politically. |
| “I have to admit, sometimes going out on the campaign trail feels a little harder than it used to for me,” he said the other day in Phoenix. “Partly, I’m just a little out of practice. And I’m a little stiffer, you know?” | “I have to admit, sometimes going out on the campaign trail feels a little harder than it used to for me,” he said the other day in Phoenix. “Partly, I’m just a little out of practice. And I’m a little stiffer, you know?” |
| But the old energy and catchphrases are still there, like “yes, we can” and “fired up, ready to go.” And Mr. Obama professes to be happy returning to the trail. “Well, I miss you, too,” he replied to one supporter who called out at a rally in College Park, Ga. “I’m glad to be back.” | But the old energy and catchphrases are still there, like “yes, we can” and “fired up, ready to go.” And Mr. Obama professes to be happy returning to the trail. “Well, I miss you, too,” he replied to one supporter who called out at a rally in College Park, Ga. “I’m glad to be back.” |
| Although he touches on the issues that animate the election like inflation, crime and abortion, his rhetoric is more elevated, his appeal broader in scope. “There may be a lot of issues at stake in this election, but the basic question, the fundamental question, that you should be asking yourself right now is: Who will fight for you?” he asked. “Who cares about you? Who sees you? Who believes in you? That’s the choice in this election.” | Although he touches on the issues that animate the election like inflation, crime and abortion, his rhetoric is more elevated, his appeal broader in scope. “There may be a lot of issues at stake in this election, but the basic question, the fundamental question, that you should be asking yourself right now is: Who will fight for you?” he asked. “Who cares about you? Who sees you? Who believes in you? That’s the choice in this election.” |
| And while he laments what he calls the demonization, particularly by Republicans, that has become even more prevalent in politics since he left the White House, he is OK with mockery. With his can-you-believe-this tone, no one skewers the other side with sarcasm quite like Mr. Obama. | |
| In Georgia, he scorned Herschel Walker, the Republican Senate candidate, as “somebody who carries around a phony badge” like “a kid playing cops and robbers.” In Arizona, speaking of Blake Masters, the Republican running for Senate, Mr. Obama said, “If you were trying to create in a lab a lackey Republican politician, it’d look a lot like this guy.” In Wisconsin, his evisceration of Senator Ron Johnson, who he said earned “a gold medal” in conspiracy theories, went viral. | In Georgia, he scorned Herschel Walker, the Republican Senate candidate, as “somebody who carries around a phony badge” like “a kid playing cops and robbers.” In Arizona, speaking of Blake Masters, the Republican running for Senate, Mr. Obama said, “If you were trying to create in a lab a lackey Republican politician, it’d look a lot like this guy.” In Wisconsin, his evisceration of Senator Ron Johnson, who he said earned “a gold medal” in conspiracy theories, went viral. |
| He scoffed at Republicans for a one-size-fits-all policy solution to all problems. “If there was an asteroid heading toward Earth, they would all get in a room and say: ‘You know what we all need? We need tax cuts for the wealthy,’” he said. Their only other goals, he said, are “owning the libs and getting Donald Trump’s approval.” | He scoffed at Republicans for a one-size-fits-all policy solution to all problems. “If there was an asteroid heading toward Earth, they would all get in a room and say: ‘You know what we all need? We need tax cuts for the wealthy,’” he said. Their only other goals, he said, are “owning the libs and getting Donald Trump’s approval.” |
| On the trail, Mr. Biden has no comparable catchphrases, and while he, too, has harsh criticism for Mr. Trump and his “ultra-MAGA Republicans,” it is more scathing than satirical. | On the trail, Mr. Biden has no comparable catchphrases, and while he, too, has harsh criticism for Mr. Trump and his “ultra-MAGA Republicans,” it is more scathing than satirical. |
| In Florida, the president went after Senator Rick Scott for proposing that federal programs be required to be reauthorized every five years, which Mr. Biden said would endanger Social Security and Medicare. “It’s so outrageous you might not even believe it,” he said. He then went after Mr. Johnson for suggesting reauthorization every year, but the comments did not go viral as Mr. Obama’s did. | In Florida, the president went after Senator Rick Scott for proposing that federal programs be required to be reauthorized every five years, which Mr. Biden said would endanger Social Security and Medicare. “It’s so outrageous you might not even believe it,” he said. He then went after Mr. Johnson for suggesting reauthorization every year, but the comments did not go viral as Mr. Obama’s did. |
| Mr. Debenedetti said the difference owes in part to the fact that Mr. Obama has grown even more disenchanted with Republicans since leaving office and feels no need to hold back while Mr. Biden, the old legislator, still harbors hope of striking bipartisan deals. | Mr. Debenedetti said the difference owes in part to the fact that Mr. Obama has grown even more disenchanted with Republicans since leaving office and feels no need to hold back while Mr. Biden, the old legislator, still harbors hope of striking bipartisan deals. |
| “They have a different set of incentives at this point,” Mr. Debenedetti said. “They’re on the same team certainly, but Obama can connect more on a human level with Democrats who are exasperated with Republicans from afar, whereas Biden has to deal with the day-to-day reality of it all.” | “They have a different set of incentives at this point,” Mr. Debenedetti said. “They’re on the same team certainly, but Obama can connect more on a human level with Democrats who are exasperated with Republicans from afar, whereas Biden has to deal with the day-to-day reality of it all.” |
| This weekend’s Philadelphia reunion of the Obama-Biden team — or is it now the Biden-Obama team? — will invariably draw comparisons that will aggravate both men. Mr. Biden cannot hope to match Mr. Obama’s rhetorical heights, and some Democrats watching them together onstage may pine for what they no longer have. | This weekend’s Philadelphia reunion of the Obama-Biden team — or is it now the Biden-Obama team? — will invariably draw comparisons that will aggravate both men. Mr. Biden cannot hope to match Mr. Obama’s rhetorical heights, and some Democrats watching them together onstage may pine for what they no longer have. |
| Yet former presidents often generate nostalgia-fueled good feelings that they did not enjoy while in office. When Mr. Obama was in office, it rankled him when Democrats contrasted him unfavorably to former President Bill Clinton. | Yet former presidents often generate nostalgia-fueled good feelings that they did not enjoy while in office. When Mr. Obama was in office, it rankled him when Democrats contrasted him unfavorably to former President Bill Clinton. |
| Likewise, former presidents have more freedom of travel than a down-in-the-polls incumbent. Mr. Clinton often made his way to competitive states that Mr. Obama did not campaign in while in office, just as Mr. Biden, with his working-class appeal, could as vice president. | Likewise, former presidents have more freedom of travel than a down-in-the-polls incumbent. Mr. Clinton often made his way to competitive states that Mr. Obama did not campaign in while in office, just as Mr. Biden, with his working-class appeal, could as vice president. |
| Now Mr. Obama, with a 54 percent favorable rating in YouGov polling, has been hitting the most important battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan and Wisconsin. Mr. Biden, at 45 percent, in this final week is mostly sticking to friendlier venues where Democrats are leading, like New Mexico, California, Illinois, New York and Maryland, as well as Florida, where national Democrats have little hope. | Now Mr. Obama, with a 54 percent favorable rating in YouGov polling, has been hitting the most important battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan and Wisconsin. Mr. Biden, at 45 percent, in this final week is mostly sticking to friendlier venues where Democrats are leading, like New Mexico, California, Illinois, New York and Maryland, as well as Florida, where national Democrats have little hope. |
| The appearance in Philadelphia is the rare exception. Pennsylvania, where Mr. Biden was born and to which he feels a special connection, is one swing state where he has made multiple appearances, and John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate for Senate in a deadlocked race, has not avoided him. | |
| It may come as a bit of a bittersweet reality for Mr. Biden to have to depend on Mr. Obama, whose shadow he has sought to escape for years. “There’s always that tension,” Mr. Debenedetti noted. “Obama is coordinating every one of his events with the Biden White House. There’s nothing about this that’s a surprise to Biden. It doesn’t mean he’s not sensitive about it, and he has been historically over time.” | It may come as a bit of a bittersweet reality for Mr. Biden to have to depend on Mr. Obama, whose shadow he has sought to escape for years. “There’s always that tension,” Mr. Debenedetti noted. “Obama is coordinating every one of his events with the Biden White House. There’s nothing about this that’s a surprise to Biden. It doesn’t mean he’s not sensitive about it, and he has been historically over time.” |
| At the same time, the change in political fortunes has served to reconcile Mr. Obama to his former vice president’s ascendance to the Oval Office. Early in Mr. Biden’s tenure, Mr. Obama privately expressed irritation that the new leader was being compared to Franklin D. Roosevelt in a way that Mr. Obama felt diminished his own presidency. | At the same time, the change in political fortunes has served to reconcile Mr. Obama to his former vice president’s ascendance to the Oval Office. Early in Mr. Biden’s tenure, Mr. Obama privately expressed irritation that the new leader was being compared to Franklin D. Roosevelt in a way that Mr. Obama felt diminished his own presidency. |
| As it happens, they now share a potential historical parallel. Just as Mr. Obama endured a “shellacking” in his first midterm election in 2010, Mr. Biden faces a possible voter repudiation on Tuesday, one that will make governing the next two years much harder. | As it happens, they now share a potential historical parallel. Just as Mr. Obama endured a “shellacking” in his first midterm election in 2010, Mr. Biden faces a possible voter repudiation on Tuesday, one that will make governing the next two years much harder. |
| But if that happens, the current president can take some solace in the experience of his former partner, who nonetheless went on to win re-election two years later. | But if that happens, the current president can take some solace in the experience of his former partner, who nonetheless went on to win re-election two years later. |