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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 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| PHILADELPHIA — 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. | PHILADELPHIA — 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 met up on Saturday for their first joint campaign appearance since Mr. Biden took office. The two Democrats teamed 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. | After weeks of never crossing paths on the trail, the two presidents finally met up on Saturday for their first joint campaign appearance since Mr. Biden took office. The two Democrats teamed 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. |
| Taking the stage to roaring applause and blaring music, Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama joined hands with Josh Shapiro, the Democratic candidate in the Pennsylvania governor’s race, and John Fetterman, the Democrat running for a Senate seat. Mr. Biden, who spoke first, hailed the legacy of Mr. Obama, whom he called “a great president, a historic president — I’m proud to say, a dear friend.” | |
| 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. |
| “The good news is you have an outstanding president right now in the White House,” Mr. Obama, his shirt sleeves rolled up, said to applause. | “The good news is you have an outstanding president right now in the White House,” Mr. Obama, his shirt sleeves rolled up, said to applause. |
| 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. | 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. |
| On Saturday, Mr. Biden spoke in fiery bursts, lacing into his predecessor, Donald J. Trump, and Republicans. Describing the election as a battle between two vastly different agendas, he said that “character is on the ballot” and warned that Republicans would try to roll back America’s safety net programs if they won power in Washington. | |
| “These guys will never cease to amaze me, man,” Mr. Biden said. “They’re literally coming after Social Security and Medicare.” | “These guys will never cease to amaze me, man,” Mr. Biden said. “They’re literally coming after Social Security and Medicare.” |
| The president also recognized Mr. Obama’s signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act, and vowed to protect it from Republicans who continue to aspire to repeal the health law. | The president also recognized Mr. Obama’s signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act, and vowed to protect it from Republicans who continue to aspire to repeal the health law. |
| “No matter how hard they try to get rid of Obamacare, I’m never going to let it happen,” Mr. Biden said. | “No matter how hard they try to get rid of Obamacare, I’m never going to let it happen,” Mr. Biden said. |
| Whether poetic or prosaic, though, each addresses in his own way the threat they see in a passel of election deniers loyal to Mr. Trump taking power in the midterm elections. 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 Mr. Trump taking power in the midterm elections. 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.” |
| In Philadelphia on Saturday, Mr. Obama took the stage and brandished some of his tested favorites, asking, “Are you fired up yet?” After he assailed Republicans, the former president prodded voters with another old standby: “Don’t boo, vote!” | In Philadelphia on Saturday, Mr. Obama took the stage and brandished some of his tested favorites, asking, “Are you fired up yet?” After he assailed Republicans, the former president prodded voters with another old standby: “Don’t boo, vote!” |
| Although he has touched in speeches on the issues that animate the election like inflation, crime and abortion, his rhetoric is more elevated, his appeal broader in scope. | Although he has touched in speeches on the issues that animate the election like inflation, crime and abortion, his rhetoric is more elevated, his appeal broader in scope. |
| And while Mr. Obama laments what he calls the demonization of opponents, 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. | And while Mr. Obama laments what he calls the demonization of opponents, 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. |
| “Not a single person has faced a death panel from Obamacare,” Mr. Obama said in Philadelphia, recalling a favorite attack line that Republicans used to disparage the law. | “Not a single person has faced a death panel from Obamacare,” Mr. Obama said in Philadelphia, recalling a favorite attack line that Republicans used to disparage the law. |
| Imagining a future under Republican control of Congress, Mr. Obama predicted an array of phony investigations. | Imagining a future under Republican control of Congress, Mr. Obama predicted an array of phony investigations. |
| “They’re going to impeach Biden,” a bemused Mr. Obama said. “They’re not quite sure why, or what for.” | “They’re going to impeach Biden,” a bemused Mr. Obama said. “They’re not quite sure why, or what for.” |
| It was far from his only such quip. 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. | It was far from his only such quip. 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. |
| 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 Rick Scott, the Republican senator, 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 Rick Scott, the Republican senator, 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. |
| Gabriel Debenedetti, the author of “The Long Alliance,” a new book on the partnership between Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama, 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. | Gabriel Debenedetti, the author of “The Long Alliance,” a new book on the partnership between Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama, 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.” |
| The 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’s style of speech is no match for Mr. Obama’s rhetorical heights, and some Democrats watching them together onstage may pine for what they no longer have. | The 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’s style of speech is no match for 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 stretch has mostly stuck to friendlier venues where Democrats were leading, like New Mexico, California, Illinois, New York and Maryland, as well as Florida, where national Democrats had 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 stretch has mostly stuck to friendlier venues where Democrats were leading, like New Mexico, California, Illinois, New York and Maryland, as well as Florida, where national Democrats had little hope. |
| The appearance in Philadelphia was 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, who is in a deadlocked Senate race, has not avoided him. | The appearance in Philadelphia was 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, who is in a deadlocked Senate race, has not avoided him. |
| “John has character, integrity,” Mr. Biden said, recalling his own roots in the state. “He’s going to be a hell of a good senator in the United States Senate.” | “John has character, integrity,” Mr. Biden said, recalling his own roots in the state. “He’s going to be a hell of a good senator in the United States Senate.” |
| 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 would 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 would make governing the next two years much harder. |
| Mr. Obama raised that history on Saturday as he urged voters in Pennsylvania to give Mr. Biden another majority in Congress. | Mr. Obama raised that history on Saturday as he urged voters in Pennsylvania to give Mr. Biden another majority in Congress. |
| Lavishing praise on his record during the last two years, Mr. Obama said he was well aware what Mr. Biden had to lose. He lamented how much more he could have done to combat climate change and how the makeup of the Supreme Court would be different if Democrats had not suffered steep losses during the midterms while he was in office. | Lavishing praise on his record during the last two years, Mr. Obama said he was well aware what Mr. Biden had to lose. He lamented how much more he could have done to combat climate change and how the makeup of the Supreme Court would be different if Democrats had not suffered steep losses during the midterms while he was in office. |
| “When I was president, I got my butt whooped in midterm elections,” Mr. Obama recalled. “Midterms are no joke.” | “When I was president, I got my butt whooped in midterm elections,” Mr. Obama recalled. “Midterms are no joke.” |