A dozen incumbents in tight races told Bloomberg Government they’d embrace the beleaguered leader of their party, albeit with varying degrees of enthusiasm and commitment.

Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), who was with Biden when he visited her swing district in April, said she’d welcome him back to her district and encourage him to meet with potential voters as much as possible.

“Joe Biden needs to be on the ground talking to folks, because when he is, they love him,” Axne said in an interview in Washington. “I hope he gets out because America needs to see the real Joe Biden, not the one that’s stuck here all the time.”…

“The days of putting distance between yourself and a presidential candidate are over,” said former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who headed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2012 and 2014 cycles.