Fearing a Donald Trump victory, Barack Obama is said to be ready to “eke it out” alongside Joe Biden this fall, hoping his presence on the campaign trail can deliver his former vice president a second term in the Oval Office, a senior aide told The New York Times. That would be a significant change from last election, where Obama offered his support and endorsement from a distance but rarely hit the trail to campaign with Biden. Obama is set to appear alongside Biden and Bill Clinton at a fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday. That’s likely the beginning of months of assistance from Obama, who an aide said has “always” worried about a Biden loss. There had been some strife between Biden’s top aides and Obama after Hillary Clinton’s failed presidential bid in 2016, with Biden’s camp reportedly faulting Obama for throwing his support behind Hillary, then the secretary of state, instead of Biden, his vice president of eight years. Now the two appear to be firing on all cylinders together, with CNN reporting that Obama told Biden he was a fan of his State of the Union speech and advising him that he believes health care will be an important election issue.
