Obama goes full throttle for Biden

On Wednesday, Obama will hold a drive-in rally in Philadelphia, and he will talk directly to Black voters — and Black men specifically — according to the Biden campaign. The former president is also expected to discuss the importance of making a plan to vote early…

The fact that Democrats are using their top campaigner to appeal to Black voters in particular during his first in-person stop this year also underscores how critical African American turnout — particularly in big cities like Philadelphia — is to Biden’s chances. At the same time, it highlights the concerns some Democrats have about whether Biden is doing enough to mobilize the key voting bloc, especially after Black turnout dropped nationwide during the presidential race four years ago.

“We’re going to be the battleground, and I think President Obama’s visit is a reflection of that,” said Democrat Cherelle Parker, the Philadelphia City Council’s majority leader and a local surrogate for the Biden campaign. “His intentions are to remind the Black community, and particularly Black men, that your vote counts, and rest assured that in no way, shape or form are we trying to take it for granted. And it’s important not just to think it, but that is important to acknowledge.”