Biden's Limited Campaign Presence as Obama and Harris Increase Efforts Ahead of Midterms

<p>Former President Joe Biden has been largely absent from the campaign trail as Democrats aim to regain House and Senate majorities in the upcoming November elections. In contrast, former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris have intensified their efforts to support party candidates.</p><p>Biden, 83, has maintained a limited public schedule while dealing with advanced, metastatic prostate cancer. He has endorsed candidates and is involved in fundraising for Democrats, according to a source close to Biden. However, he has made few political appearances this year.</p><p>The difference in activity is becoming more apparent with four weeks remaining until Election Day.</p><p>Obama is producing advertisements for Senate and gubernatorial candidates, assisting with fundraising, and preparing to campaign in the final stretch of the midterm elections. Harris, the Democrats' 2024 presidential nominee, is also actively campaigning in key battleground states, including a recent visit to Michigan with Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.</p><p>Biden has participated in only a few political events this year, including a speech in February at a reception celebrating his 2020 South Carolina primary victory, which was significant for his Democratic nomination and subsequent presidency. In June, he spoke at a Maryland Democratic Party event.</p><p>Michael Ceraso, a longtime Democratic strategist, expressed concerns among some party elites and fundraisers that Biden's presence at events, whether virtual or in-person, could be detrimental.</p><p>Conversely, veteran Democratic strategist Maria Cardona noted that many Americans still support Biden.</p><p>Biden has also engaged in several Democratic primary races this cycle, endorsing former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor, who won the Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and Dan Koh, who secured the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District.</p><p>Biden has emphasized the importance of voting, stating, "American democracy begins and ends at the ballot box. There is no more important civic duty nor fundamental right to be defended," as he cast his ballot in Delaware's primary last month.</p><p>However, Biden has often been positioned as a counterpoint to former President Donald Trump, who he defeated in the 2020 election. Following a poor debate performance in their 2024 rematch, Biden ended his re-election bid.</p><p>Trump and other Republicans have blamed Biden for rising gas and diesel prices, despite public opinion polls indicating that many Americans attribute the issues to Trump and his administration.</p><p>Biden left the presidency with low approval ratings, facing challenges such as high inflation and foreign policy disputes. In January 2025, he had a 42% approval rating and 57% disapproval in the final Fox News poll of his presidency.</p><p>Post-presidency, Biden had a 71% favorable rating among Democrats in a CNN poll conducted in May, although this was 25 points lower than Obama's rating.</p><p>Some Democrats continue to hold Biden responsible for Trump's 2024 re-election, arguing that he did not withdraw from the race in time for Harris to run effectively.</p><p>Ceraso remarked that Biden has left a "bad taste" for some Democrats, particularly among the party's elite and fundraising circles.</p><p>He added that he does not believe Biden possesses the same level of charisma as Harris or Obama, stating, "If I'm organizing an event to attract thousands of attendees, I would not center it around Biden."</p><p>Cardona emphasized that Biden's health is limiting requests for him to appear on the campaign trail, stating, "I guarantee you no one would try to bother him to come campaign for them while, at 83 years old, he is battling cancer and in the toughest fight of his life."</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to a Biden spokesman for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.</p>