The contest is not set in stone until the parties’ nominating conventions this summer, but since the rematch became all but inevitable weeks ago, Trump has held just one of his signature rallies, in Ohio.His step back is unusual for a showman who — despite his own many verbal slip-ups — enjoys putting on a stiff gait and pretending to be confused as he mocks Biden, delighting supporters in packed arenas.Trump has long denigrated his rival as “Sleepy Joe,” but Team Biden has been returning the compliment lately, cheekily appropriating a Trumpism to decry “Low Energy Don.”‘Human connection’Like Trump, Biden’s age could be a major obstacle as he digs deep to inspire passion in voters over what is set to be one of the most longest, most arduous campaigns in history.But he has surrounded himself with aides who play to his strengths.The Democrat has been blitzing the all-important swing states during a recent campaign schedule that has taken in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.He has eschewed the stadiums that Trump likes in favor of smaller gatherings, sometimes away from the television cameras, or low-key visits to small businesses — a barber shop with an African-American clientele, a Mexican restaurant.He will take part in chats around the kitchen table — set-piece events carefully stage-managed by aides who send out flattering videos after the fact rather than allowing in journalists.Biden, hunched over a hamburger and milkshake, will talk about student debt with a group of undergraduates or comfort a youngster suffering from his own childhood affliction, a bad stutter.Avoiding interviews with the national press, Biden prefers short exchanges with local or community-based media, and seldom holds news conferences.”Part of what makes President Biden a successful president is that he has that human connection with people. And that’s different from Trump’s mega rallies,” said Ben Wikler, Democratic Party chief in the swing state of Wisconsin.
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