US President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaigned together for the first time on Monday, in a public display of teamwork after she replaced him as the nominee and rekindled Democratic election hopes.
In a bid to woo voters in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, the pair met with union members in Pittsburgh before standing side by side to address about 600 supporters.
Biden repeatedly mentioned Vice President Harris, who is in a tight race to beat Donald Trump to the White House on Nov. 5.
“We've made a lot of progress, and Kamala and I are going to continue to build on that progress, and she's going to continue to build on it,” Biden said.
“I'll be on the sidelines, but I'll do everything I can to help.”
The Labor Day event at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union underscored how Biden will play a role in the campaign in the final months before the vote.
Biden, 81, initially resisted dropping out of the presidential race after his disastrous debate performance against Trump, but has since joined Harris, 59.
“There's only one person we can have a rational choice with this time: Kamala Harris,” he said to cheers.
“I know her. I trust her,” he added. “She has the audacity of a drumstick and the compass of a saint.”
“This woman knows what she's doing. I promise you, if you elect Kamala Harris as president, it will be the best decision you've ever made.”
Swing States
Fueled by a wave of enthusiasm, Harris has held mass rallies across the country and collected cash donations in recent weeks.
Polls show his entry improves Democrats' chances of defeating Republican Trump, but the outcome is highly uncertain.
In Pittsburgh, Biden and Harris hugged and held hands before she showered him with effusive praise.
“Joe Biden has been one of the most transformative presidents we've ever seen in America, and that comes from his heart,” she said.
“Joe and I talk a lot about the fact that we're very proud to be the most pro-union administration in American history.”
“We will not go back!” chanted the crowd, using one of their campaign slogans.
Trump took the weekend off from campaigning and had no public events scheduled on Monday.
“For a candidate who claims to be rallying support from working people, why is Donald Trump missing on Labor Day?” Harris' campaign asked in a statement.
The Republican, in a post on his Truth Social platform, promoted claims about his economic record and accused Harris and Biden of having “undone all of that.”
Harris last appeared with Biden after his speech two weeks ago at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
As she rushes to define her platform, the vice president has sought to promise change while avoiding criticism of Biden's tenure.
Harris has faced scrutiny for moving away from the liberal positions she held during her campaign when she competed against Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2020.
He previously pledged to ban fracking, a major source of revenue in Pennsylvania, but has now backed off.
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that will decide the election, and possibly the one on which the entire outcome will depend.
Monday's joint appearance with Biden also kicked off the two-month race to the polls, with Labor Day marking the traditional end of the American summer.
“Folks, we're 64 days away from the most important election of our lifetimes, and probably one of the most important in the life of our nation,” Harris said, describing herself as the underdog in the race.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us, but the good thing about being here is that we like our jobs. Hard work is good work.”
Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, campaigned separately in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
