'Joe is my brother': Obama and Biden campaign together for first time as Trump furiously barnstorms
Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
NEW YORK — A jubilant Joe Biden was joined by President Barack Obama on Saturday as the former Democratic running mates came together in battleground Michigan for the first time on the 2020 campaign trail.
The former White House partners exchanged a socially distanced elbow bump after Obama paid emotional tribute to his "brother" Biden.
Biden, who wore his trademark aviator sunglasses on a brilliant fall day, praised "Mr. President" for being a role model during their eight years in the White House.
Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
"Kind of reminds you how good it can be," Biden said.
The Democratic heavyweights rallied the faithful as President Donald Trump barnstormed across Pennsylvania, where he planned four rallies across the state, from the suburbs of Philadelphia to the Appalachian coal country.
"This is the state that will save the American dream," Trump told a mostly mask-less crowd of thousands in upscale Bucks County.
Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
With just three days to go before Election Day, both sides were focusing energy on the Rust Belt #BlueWall states that Trump famously flipped in 2016.
Polls show Biden with a lead in Michigan and Wisconsin, states Trump narrowly won four years ago. The challenger's lead is narrower in Pennsylvania, where Trump hopes to capitalize on an edge among in-person GOP voters.
Trump was hopscotching from rally to rally, working to win at least one of the #BlueWall states and hold onto all the other GOP-leaning states he won in 2016. Biden will appear in Philadelphia Sunday, and was expected to spend Monday in Pennsylvania too.
Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
Polls were showing Biden pulling ahead in normally Republican states like Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. Obama planned to appear in Atlanta on Monday, with Democrats aiming to win the Peach State for the first time since 1992.
In Texas, where there was record-breaking early voting, Trump has a razor-thin lead in the biggest red state of them all.
As Democrats hope for a surge of suburban voters turned off by Trump's mercurial governing style and handling of the coronavirus pandemic, but they remain haunted by Trump's shocking 2016 victory.
Supporters wait for buses as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
"We got a little complacent last time," Obama conceded before setting out with Biden for Detroit where Stevie Wonder was set to join them.
Biden urged supporters to leave no doubt about the winner at the end of a tumultuous year-long battle.
"The message is going to be loud and it's going to be clear," he said. "Donald Trump, it's time to pack your bags."
Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters wait for buses as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters wait for buses as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters react as they leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Supporters leave after attending a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump at Regional Airport in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
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