Bob Casey stands by Biden as other battleground Senate Democrats keep their distance

Senate Democrats fighting for re-election in battleground states aren’t expressing much confidence in President Joe Biden as he faces calls to withdraw from the race.

Some have said they doubt he will win if he remains on the ballot. Others have stayed silent or not appeared alongside him at campaign events.

Bob Casey has been an exception.

The longtime Pennsylvania senator joined other members of the state’s congressional delegation to greet Biden at the Philadelphia airport on Sunday, before attending church with him in a predominantly Black neighborhood. And Casey has batted down suggestions from colleagues that Biden is at risk of suffering a “landslide” defeat.

“No,” Casey told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., making such a suggestion the day before. Asked why he’s confident in Biden’s chances, Casey said, “It’s just my view.”

Last week, in his first public appearances since the June debate, Casey acknowledged Biden “had a bad night and debate, but I think people know what’s at stake.”

“I’ve been at this a while, and I know his work,” Casey told reporters. “And I also know that the American people and the people of Pennsylvania are going to focus on these races in the way that I just outlined.”

Casey’s support has not been as full-throated as that of some of his Democratic colleagues who are not locked in re-election battles this year, such as John Fetterman, his fellow Pennsylvania senator.

But Casey’s willingness to stand by the president as he fights for political survival offers him a boost in the critical swing state, and signals that Pennsylvania Democrats may not be as willing to ditch the president as some other members of the party.

In fact, no one in the Pennsylvania