A new Biden is on display in public

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Who is this new Joe Biden we’re seeing, just in time for election season?

He’s spitballing about the Middle East during a stop for ice cream in New York and cracking jokes at Donald Trump’s expense on late-night television.

He’s getting directly involved in government funding, calling congressional leaders down to the White House to negotiate in front of a crackling fire.

Later this week, he’ll head down to the border to see the migrant crisis for himself.

After months of stories about Democrats in distress about weak poll numbers and the growing perception that Biden lacks the stamina for the job, there’s a perceptible tweak in how much people are seeing Biden and what he has to say on key issues.

Talking about a ceasefire

Facing a protest vote from pro-Palestinian Democrats in Michigan in Tuesday’s primary, Biden was sharing some optimism on the Middle East.

“My hope is by next Monday, we’ll have a ceasefire,” Biden said, a massive cone of mint chip halfway to his mouth. The comments, made during a Monday outing in Manhattan with the late-night host Seth Meyers, took the diplomatic negotiators working on a temporary ceasefire halfway across the world by surprise.

The Democratic divide on the Middle East is a growing political issue at home for Biden. Arab American voters play an important role in the swing state of Michigan, and progressives, pointing to US support for Israel and the plight of Palestinians, are urging Michigan Democrats to vote “uncommitted” instead of for the incumbent who is sure to be their candidate in November.

Cracking jokes about Trump