After criss-crossing the country for the midterms, Joe Biden and Donald Trump will find themselves ending the campaign on common ground in Pennsylvania.
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The must-win battleground has emerged as a proxy fight between the two men. It’s the rare state where both are appearing, culminating in final weekend showdowns when Biden is expected to join former President Barack Obama and the Democratic ticket while Trump rallies with the Republicans in the western part of the state.
The stops foreshadow a likely 2024 rematch and escalate the posturing between the two that’s been simmering since Biden vanquished Trump two years ago, thanks in large part to reclaiming Pennsylvania.
While their paths rarely cross so obviously, Biden has used Trump’s probable return to ground his own reasoning for potentially running again. Trump, meanwhile, is using Biden’s shaky standing in the polls as a springboard for himself, despite myriad investigations and legal troubles following the former president.
Their teams are acutely aware that the success of any future campaign would again heavily rest on success in Pennsylvania. They are keen on keeping roots there. And yet, the late campaign swing through the state also threatens to showcase their current vulnerabilities.