Biden, Obama reunite in Philadelphia in effort to lift Dems
PHILADELPHIA — After weeks of never crossing paths on the trail, President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Barack Obama, finally met up 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, who 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.
“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. On Saturday, Mr. Biden spoke in fiery bursts, lacing into his predecessor, Donald 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 win power in Washington. “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.
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 hemakes 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.
“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.
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’mglad 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!”
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 canyou-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.
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.”