John Kerry Rallies With Joe Biden, Evoking Some 2004 Parallels

Ex-nominee joins Biden on the road, says he will beat Trump
Some Democrats wonder if Biden will meet a similar fate as ’04

John Kerry joins Joe Biden at a campaign event in Elkader, Iowa on Dec. 6. Photographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images North America

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By Sahil Kapur

December 8, 2019 at 9:13 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

For some voters, seeing John Kerry and Joe Biden campaign together felt like déjà vu.

In 2004, Kerry was the establishment Democrat who struggled in early-state polls but went on to defeat populist rivals for the nomination, propelled by a perception that he was the most “electable” option to face down a Republican incumbent unpopular with the left.