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| Barack Obama and Joe Biden Join Forces in Video Targeting Trump | Barack Obama and Joe Biden Join Forces in Video Targeting Trump |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. joined forces with his top surrogate Thursday morning, releasing a video of a conversation with former President Barack Obama that cast the current occupant of the White House as unworthy and Mr. Biden as the perfect leader to replace him. | Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. joined forces with his top surrogate Thursday morning, releasing a video of a conversation with former President Barack Obama that cast the current occupant of the White House as unworthy and Mr. Biden as the perfect leader to replace him. |
| Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama covered several topics in the wide-ranging, 15-minute conversation, including President Trump’s faltering response to the coronavirus pandemic, health care, the economic recovery, police brutality and presidential leadership. | Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama covered several topics in the wide-ranging, 15-minute conversation, including President Trump’s faltering response to the coronavirus pandemic, health care, the economic recovery, police brutality and presidential leadership. |
| The conversation, recorded at Mr. Obama’s Washington office, was “socially distanced,” as Mr. Biden continues to contrast himself with Mr. Trump, who has only halfheartedly embraced virus mitigation tactics like wearing face masks and staying six feet away from another person. Mr. Biden and his former boss entered the office wearing masks before sitting in chairs across the room from each other, unmasked, as they discussed how Mr. Biden would govern as president. | The conversation, recorded at Mr. Obama’s Washington office, was “socially distanced,” as Mr. Biden continues to contrast himself with Mr. Trump, who has only halfheartedly embraced virus mitigation tactics like wearing face masks and staying six feet away from another person. Mr. Biden and his former boss entered the office wearing masks before sitting in chairs across the room from each other, unmasked, as they discussed how Mr. Biden would govern as president. |
| The video, coming at a time when Mr. Biden is leading Mr. Trump in the polls, was part interview and part political layup, with Mr. Obama prompting Mr. Biden to talk about current events in the lens through which he was most comfortable. The two men repeatedly circled back to Mr. Trump, drawing a contrast with how Mr. Obama’s administration — and Mr. Biden’s potential White House — would handle situations differently than the incumbent. | The video, coming at a time when Mr. Biden is leading Mr. Trump in the polls, was part interview and part political layup, with Mr. Obama prompting Mr. Biden to talk about current events in the lens through which he was most comfortable. The two men repeatedly circled back to Mr. Trump, drawing a contrast with how Mr. Obama’s administration — and Mr. Biden’s potential White House — would handle situations differently than the incumbent. |
| Mr. Trump has been “deliberately dividing people from the moment he came down that escalator,” Mr. Biden said. “And I think people are now going, ‘I don’t want my kid growing up that way.’” | Mr. Trump has been “deliberately dividing people from the moment he came down that escalator,” Mr. Biden said. “And I think people are now going, ‘I don’t want my kid growing up that way.’” |
| Mr. Obama responded by saying, in part, “The thing I’ve got confidence in, Joe, is your heart and your character, and the fact that you are going to be able to reassemble the kind of government that cares about people and brings people together.” | Mr. Obama responded by saying, in part, “The thing I’ve got confidence in, Joe, is your heart and your character, and the fact that you are going to be able to reassemble the kind of government that cares about people and brings people together.” |
| The video was released Thursday at 10 a.m. and represents another careful step into the political arena by Mr. Obama, who is desperate to see Mr. Trump defeated but for months remained behind the scenes as he sought to let the Democratic Party chart its own course. Leading up to the video’s release, Mr. Biden’s campaign circulated several clips online, helping to build anticipation and underscoring Mr. Obama’s wide reach as a campaign surrogate and highly respected party leader. | The video was released Thursday at 10 a.m. and represents another careful step into the political arena by Mr. Obama, who is desperate to see Mr. Trump defeated but for months remained behind the scenes as he sought to let the Democratic Party chart its own course. Leading up to the video’s release, Mr. Biden’s campaign circulated several clips online, helping to build anticipation and underscoring Mr. Obama’s wide reach as a campaign surrogate and highly respected party leader. |
| At one point the two men discussed the importance of health care and talked about the Affordable Care Act, which the Obama administration passed early in its first term. Mr. Biden talked about it in personal terms, reflecting on the death of his son Beau from brain cancer. | At one point the two men discussed the importance of health care and talked about the Affordable Care Act, which the Obama administration passed early in its first term. Mr. Biden talked about it in personal terms, reflecting on the death of his son Beau from brain cancer. |
| That experience, Mr. Biden told Mr. Obama, underscored the significance of the health care legislation. | That experience, Mr. Biden told Mr. Obama, underscored the significance of the health care legislation. |
| “I used to sit there and watch him in the bed and in pain and dying of glioblastoma,” Mr. Biden said of his older son, who died in 2015. “And I thought to myself, what would happen if his insurance company was able to come in, which they could have done before we passed Obamacare, and said: ‘You’ve outrun your insurance. You’ve outlived it. Suffer the last five months of your life in peace. You’re on your own.’” | “I used to sit there and watch him in the bed and in pain and dying of glioblastoma,” Mr. Biden said of his older son, who died in 2015. “And I thought to myself, what would happen if his insurance company was able to come in, which they could have done before we passed Obamacare, and said: ‘You’ve outrun your insurance. You’ve outlived it. Suffer the last five months of your life in peace. You’re on your own.’” |
| Health care was a central issue for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, and they are emphasizing it again this election cycle, especially with the pandemic underscoring the importance of insurance coverage and care for the sick. | Health care was a central issue for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, and they are emphasizing it again this election cycle, especially with the pandemic underscoring the importance of insurance coverage and care for the sick. |
| Mr. Trump came into office on a promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but he and Republicans in Congress failed in their efforts to undo the health law in 2017. Still, the Trump administration has repeatedly sought to undermine the law, and it is now asking the Supreme Court to overturn it. | Mr. Trump came into office on a promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but he and Republicans in Congress failed in their efforts to undo the health law in 2017. Still, the Trump administration has repeatedly sought to undermine the law, and it is now asking the Supreme Court to overturn it. |
| “You and I both know what it’s like to have somebody you love get really sick, and in some cases to lose somebody,” Mr. Obama told Mr. Biden in their conversation. He called the Affordable Care Act a piece of “starter house” legislation, giving Mr. Biden room to highlight his proposed public health insurance option, which would build on Mr. Obama’s efforts. | “You and I both know what it’s like to have somebody you love get really sick, and in some cases to lose somebody,” Mr. Obama told Mr. Biden in their conversation. He called the Affordable Care Act a piece of “starter house” legislation, giving Mr. Biden room to highlight his proposed public health insurance option, which would build on Mr. Obama’s efforts. |
| “But that loss is compounded when you see the stress on their faces, because they’re worried that they’re being a burden on their families,” Mr. Obama said. “They’re worried about whether the insurance is going to cover the treatments that they need.” | “But that loss is compounded when you see the stress on their faces, because they’re worried that they’re being a burden on their families,” Mr. Obama said. “They’re worried about whether the insurance is going to cover the treatments that they need.” |
| In another portion of the conversation, which was released on Wednesday, the two talked about their response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the current protests for racial equality. During Mr. Obama’s administration, some activists criticized the president for blocking efforts at systemic reform, but there is widespread agreement he was more receptive than Mr. Trump has been. | In another portion of the conversation, which was released on Wednesday, the two talked about their response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the current protests for racial equality. During Mr. Obama’s administration, some activists criticized the president for blocking efforts at systemic reform, but there is widespread agreement he was more receptive than Mr. Trump has been. |
| Mr. Obama, the country’s first Black president, noted the police accountability measures that his administration put in place, including a greater role for the Justice Department in police oversight. He cited some instances of overt racism that still persist, including job discrimination. | Mr. Obama, the country’s first Black president, noted the police accountability measures that his administration put in place, including a greater role for the Justice Department in police oversight. He cited some instances of overt racism that still persist, including job discrimination. |
| “This is a process we’re all going through, and we’re all learning,” Mr. Obama said. “And something I’ve always admired about you, Joe, is your willingness to listen and to learn. It is a sign of leadership when you’re willing to hear other people’s experiences.” | “This is a process we’re all going through, and we’re all learning,” Mr. Obama said. “And something I’ve always admired about you, Joe, is your willingness to listen and to learn. It is a sign of leadership when you’re willing to hear other people’s experiences.” |
| The two are planning another online fund-raiser next week, with tickets ranging from $250 to $250,000. The Obamas, both the former president and his wife, Michelle, are probably the highest-profile figures to have endorsed Mr. Biden, with the ability to drive attention and fund-raising unlike any other Democrats. | The two are planning another online fund-raiser next week, with tickets ranging from $250 to $250,000. The Obamas, both the former president and his wife, Michelle, are probably the highest-profile figures to have endorsed Mr. Biden, with the ability to drive attention and fund-raising unlike any other Democrats. |
| That Democrats have nominated his former vice president gives Mr. Obama a special entrance point to this election cycle, but he was rarely far away. During the primary, several candidates branded themselves as the heir to the “Obama coalition,” which could help Democrats achieve in 2020 what they failed to achieve in 2016. | That Democrats have nominated his former vice president gives Mr. Obama a special entrance point to this election cycle, but he was rarely far away. During the primary, several candidates branded themselves as the heir to the “Obama coalition,” which could help Democrats achieve in 2020 what they failed to achieve in 2016. |
| The topics discussed in the video also function as a cheat sheet to the Biden campaign’s political message ahead of the general election. Mr. Obama ended the video talking about how Mr. Biden’s “basic decency” was just as important as any political message. | The topics discussed in the video also function as a cheat sheet to the Biden campaign’s political message ahead of the general election. Mr. Obama ended the video talking about how Mr. Biden’s “basic decency” was just as important as any political message. |
| The two men also spent time focusing on the failures of Mr. Trump in responding to the pandemic and the financial devastation it has caused. | The two men also spent time focusing on the failures of Mr. Trump in responding to the pandemic and the financial devastation it has caused. |
| “You can’t separate out the public health crisis from the economy,” Mr. Obama said. “If you want the economy growing, people have to feel safe.” | “You can’t separate out the public health crisis from the economy,” Mr. Obama said. “If you want the economy growing, people have to feel safe.” |
| Mr. Biden responded, “What you did, and what all great presidents do, is persuade.” | Mr. Biden responded, “What you did, and what all great presidents do, is persuade.” |
| A few hours after the video was posted, Trump campaign’s national press secretary, Hogan Gidley, issued a response. | |
| “Even the former president’s half-hearted, scripted praise can’t cover-up Joe Biden’s nearly 50-year long legacy of failure,” he said. “Biden’s half-century in Washington has been mired in controversy and failed socialist policies that don’t reflect our values, while in just three years, President Trump has provided every day, hard-working Americans with real success and more opportunities to reach their American Dream.” | |
| Thomas Kaplan contributed reporting. | Thomas Kaplan contributed reporting. |