Biden, Trump, Obama, and Clinton On The Campaign Trail Ahead Of Tuesday’s Midterm Election

President Joe Biden and two presidential predecessors campaigned in Pennsylvania on Saturday with starkly different messages, emphasizing the country’s polarization ahead of the midterm elections on Tuesday.

“This is a defining moment for the nation, and we all must speak with one voice regardless of our party,” Biden said. “There’s no place in America for political violence. No place. No place for what we saw happen to Paul Pelosi.” He also focused on the threat that he said Republicans could place on abortion rights, voting rights, Social Security and Medicare if they take control of Congress.

Biden and former President Barack Obama spoke at a rally for Senate candidate John Fetterman and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro.

“Democracy really is on the ballot,” Obama said. “Listen, Democrats may not be perfect, I am the first one to admit it … but right now, at this moment, with a few notable exceptions, most Republican politicians aren’t even pretending the rules apply to them anymore. They’re not pretending the facts apply anymore. They just make stuff up.”

In a sharp contrast, elsewhere in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump spoke in support of Senate candidate Mehmet Oz and gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano. Speaking about the importance of winning the battleground state, Trump said: “This could be the vote that’s going to make the difference between a country and not a country.”

As of November 4, Fetterman is just barely leading Oz in the polls, with 46.8% of the vote to Oz’s 46.4%. 

Trump added: “If you support the decline and fall of America, then you must vote for the radical left Democrats. If you want to stop the destruction of our country and save the American dream, then this Tuesday you must vote Republican in a giant red wave.” 

Trump is expected to announce his White House run on November 14—the same day he is set to testify to the January 6 committee. He teased his upcoming announcement at the Saturday rally: “In 2024, most importantly we are going to take back our magnificent, oh, it’s so beautiful, White House…We’re going to take it back and you’re going to be hearing about it very soon.” 

Although Trump has yet to announce his 2024 run, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is seen as Trump’s biggest challenger for the Republican nomination. On Saturday, Trump referred to DeSantis as “Ron DeSanctimonious.”

Former President Bill Clinton also contributed to a last-minute push for Democrats, as he offered support for New York Governor Kathy Hochul in Brooklyn on Saturday; Biden is expected to do the same on Sunday.

As of Sunday, 39 million people have already voted early or by mail, according to AP.