Planes, pizza and Cher: Biden resumes campaign travel

Joe Biden opened first week of general-election campaign with a morning flight to a must-win battleground state where he delivered a blistering speech against his rival, President Donald Trump. He dropped off pizzas at a local firehouse, took photos with first-responders and swung by a private fundraiser helined by Cher before catching a return flight home.

For a moment, tritional campaigning — complete with chartered airplanes, unanunced visits and sometimes awkward celebrity moments — returned to America.

But Biden's Monday trip to Pittsburgh, his first substantial travel in months, was anything but rmal. Local rules designed to prevent spre of coronavirus meant that voters in this swath of western Pennsylvania who could decide election couldn't watch Biden deliver his speech in-person. Some Biden staffers h to leave to prevent overcrowding in room. And fundraiser was held virtually, with Biden joining from same building as speech.

Cher, appearing virtually, said of Trump, “ guy is really an idiot."

With both parties' conventions over and campaign entering home stretch, Pennsylvania swing offered a preview of how Biden will likely spend his days before election: day trips to critical states where he participates in carefully controlled events and does little of gl-handing that he is kwn for. Biden's campaign insists it is listening to science by keeping him away from crowds and wearing a mask in public, in contrast with Trump, who packed people onto White House's South Lawn last week for his speech accepting Republican Party's mination for a second term.

Biden is betting that his more reserved approach will appeal to voters seeking to move past tumult of Trump era. But he's competing against a president who erly harnesses power of incumbency to vance his political prospects.

Trump routinely flies around country on official business that often feels like campaign events with large crowds — usually gleefully flaunting social distancing and mask-wearing rules — garing at airport to cheer him. president will travel to Kesha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday after some protests re became violent in recent days following police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer.

Trump told reporters on Monday that trip could “increase enthusiasm” in state, which is ar battleground.

president is fond of accusing Biden of “hiding” in basement of his Delaware home, where he's built a studio to conduct virtual campaign events. It's t a fully accurate description because Biden has traveled about once a week since Memorial Day, delivering speeches and interacting with small groups of business owners and ors.

But until Monday, those trips were to places in Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania that were a short drive from his home.

When Biden landed in Pittsburgh, only a group of campaign reporters — consigned to ir own small plane that flew ahe of Biden’s — was re to greet him. He didn't answer any questions.

Biden first went to a onetime shuttered factory that has been converted into a sustainable energy center and is w part of Carnegie Mellon University. He lashed out at Trump, speaking in a large, concrete-floored room with ceilings that soared more than three stories.

Yet masked reporters were assigned to individual social distancing circles set on floor and, because of ir ranks and those of Secret Service, some of Biden’s staff members slipped out before his speech — ensuring that t more than 25 people were present.

“Donald Trump looks at this violence and sees a political lifeline,” said Biden, blaming president for fanning tensions that have seen some protests against institutional racism and police brutality turn violent recently.

In a d to Pennsylvania’s heavily energy dependent ecomy, Biden declared: “I’m t for banning fracking — matter how many times Donald Trump lies about me.”

In parking lot outside, well-wishers swelled to more than 100, even after Biden’s speech concluded. Some waved Biden signs and chanted “We want Joe!" despite t being close eugh for him to hear m.

Biden later me a quick stop at firehouse, joking of pizzas he brought, “I was worried my staff was going to keep m."

He chatted with first-responders and posed for a group picture. But Biden also was interrupted by a man who said he was a retired fire fighter and used a perch atop a truck parked across street and a bullhorn to pester Democratic candidate.

“You finally got out of your basement,” man declared. “You’re t going to win Pennsylvania.”

Biden, who was wearing a black face mask, pulled it down as he turned and yelled in a depan, “Don't jump!"

Moments later, Biden was flying back to Delaware, where, again, only same small group of reporters was re to greet him.

Biden left plane wordlessly. He's considering a trip to Wisconsin soon and will hit a series of or battleground states — but t likely until after Labor Day.