Gabriel Debenedetti, author of “Long-lasting Alliance,” a new book on the partnership between Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama, says the difference is in part because Mr. Obama has grown increasingly disgusted with Republicans since leaving office and feels no need must keep it while Mr. Biden, the former lawmaker, remains hopeful of a bipartisan agreement.
“They have a bunch of different incentives at the moment,” Mr. Debenedetti said. “They’re on the same team for sure, but Obama can connect more on a human level with the Democrats who are exasperating Republicans from afar, while Biden has to deal with the everyday reality of all.”
Obama-Biden team Philadelphia reunion – or now Biden-Obama team? – will always make comparisons that aggravate both men. Mr. Biden’s style of speech does not match Mr. Obama’s rhetorical heights, and some Democrats watching them together on stage may sympathize with what they no longer have.
However, former presidents often create good feelings aroused by nostalgia that they did not have while in office. When Mr. Obama was in office, that put him in the dark as Democrats compared him against former President Bill Clinton.
Likewise, former presidents have more freedom of movement than incumbents. Mr. Clinton has often sought to travel to competitive countries that Mr. Obama did not campaign for while in office, just as Mr. Biden, with his working-class appeal, could be vice president.
Now Mr. Obama, with favorable rating 54 percent in YouGov . polls, hit the most important battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Mr. Biden, at 45 percentin this final phase mostly stuck in friendlier locations where Democrats lead, like New Mexico, California, Illinois, New York and Maryland, as well as Florida, where Democrats nationwide no hope.
The Philadelphia appearance was a rare exception. Pennsylvania, where Mr. Biden was born and where he feels a special connection, is a swing state where he has appeared numerous times, and John Fetterman, who is in a deadlocked Senate race, has not avoid him.
