Duelling US presidents descend on key swing state Pennsylvania

It is uncommon for Donald Trump to present the aforesaid connection arsenic Barack Obama and Joe Biden - but it happened erstwhile the Republican and 2 Democrats campaigned successful Pennsylvania connected the aforesaid day.

The governmental foes each urged Americans successful the important state: spell vote.

Mr Biden and Mr Obama formed the predetermination arsenic a conflict for democracy, portion Mr Trump said the country's information and information were connected the line.

Tuesday's US midterm elections volition find power of Congress.

All 435 seats successful the House of Representatives are being contested, portion 35 are up for grabs successful the Senate.

In Pennsylvania a razor-thin borderline separates Democratic Senate campaigner John Fetterman, 53, from Republican Mehmet Oz, 62. The appearances of 2 ex-presidents and President Biden connected the past play earlier the predetermination signalled the state's importance.

Mr Trump's triumph successful Pennsylvania helped present him the White House successful 2016, erstwhile his connection of populist choler struck a chord with blue-collar voters successful the state.

An opposing sentiment of pragmatism and wide authorities successful municipality centres gave it backmost to Democrats successful 2020, erstwhile Mr Biden won his location authorities by a borderline of little than 2%.

Speaking successful Philadelphia connected Saturday, Mr Biden declared that it was "good to beryllium home" arsenic helium stumped for Mr Fetterman and Josh Shapiro, the Democratic campaigner for governor.

He warned the assemblage that failing to instrumentality Democratic majorities successful the House of Representatives and the Senate would mean further restrictions to termination rights and cuts to nationalist healthcare.

Though Democrats presently clasp seats successful some chambers of Congress, they are expected to suffer the House and are successful a dormant vigor for power of the Senate, according to polls.

"Here successful Philadelphia, a spot that defines the psyche of America, contiguous we look an inflection point," Mr Biden said. A ballot for Democrats would beryllium a ballot for women's health, weapon power and healthcare, helium said.

Outside the rally, voters queued aboriginal to spot 2 presidents - Mr Biden and his Democratic predecessor Mr Obama - connected the aforesaid stage.

One Pennsylvanian, Steve Phillips, told the BBC's Sarah Smith helium hoped it would get radical retired to vote, careless which enactment they supported.

But immoderate of the assemblage admitted it was truly Mr Obama they had travel to see, and they mightiness not person turned up if Mr Biden had been present alone.

Midterms are often seen arsenic a referendum connected the sitting president, and with Mr Biden's support hovering astatine 40%, Republicans person recovered plentifulness to criticise arsenic Americans interest astir precocious inflation, guns and immigration.

Some 250 miles (402km) westbound of Philadelphia, Mr Trump warned Pennsylvanians successful the tiny municipality of Latrobe that continued Democratic power successful Washington would pb to much transgression and unfettered immigration.

Supporters there, too, gathered hours aboriginal to spot Mr Trump.

"If you privation information and information for your family, you request to ballot each azygous Democrat retired of office," helium said.

"There's lone 1 prime - if you enactment the diminution and autumn of America past you indispensable ballot for the extremist Democrats. If you privation to halt the demolition of our state past you indispensable ballot Republican successful a elephantine reddish wave."

The erstwhile Republican president besides hinted again astatine the anticipation of moving for bureau successful 2024 - adjacent arsenic helium has continued to marque mendacious claims that the US predetermination strategy is fraudulent. "The predetermination was rigged and stolen - it's a shame," Mr Trump said.

One attendee told RSBN, a blimpish network, that helium was determination to enactment Mr Trump due to the fact that the erstwhile president had helped guarantee that radical could "live a beingness without suppression and being told what we request to do".

Fears and mendacious claims of fraud person haunted these midterms, with galore arguing that the 8 November ballot volition beryllium a trial of the fidelity of the predetermination system.

Back successful Philadelphia, taking the marquee speaking slot aft Mr Biden, Mr Obama warned: "Truth and facts and logic and crushed and basal decency are connected the ballot. Democracy itself is connected the ballot - the stakes are high".