Biden comes after Trump, recycles Obama's 'hope' message in first campaign rally

Former Vice President Joe Biden used his first campaign rally to squarely target President Donald Trump, and to embrace his status as an "Obama-Biden" Democrat by using the former president's message of "hope."

Biden officially entered the 2020 Democratic presidential primary late last week, and unlike most of the other candidates, he has focused his attention more on President Trump than on his primary opponents.

"The only thing that can tear America apart is America itself," Biden told the Scranton, Pennsylvania, audience. "Everybody knows who Donald Trump is. And I believe — I believe in hope. We have to let them know who we are. We Democrats, we independents who have the same view have to choose hope over fear, unity over division, and most importantly truth over lies."

Biden is, interestingly, also using some of the same messaging as President Trump used in 2016. Biden is trying to portray himself as a friend to the working and middle class voters, decrying policies that allegedly benefit the wealthy while leaving everyday Americans behind.

He framed President Trump's tax cuts as one of those policies that has overlooked the middle class, and also aligned himself with labor unions. President Trump took notice of Biden's rally and responded on Twitter.

"I'll never get the support of Dues Crazy union leadership, those people who rip-off their membership with ridiculously high dues, medical and other expenses while being paid a fortune," Trump wrote. "But the members love Trump. They look at our record economy, tax & reg cuts, military etc. WIN!

"The Media (Fake News) is pushing Sleepy Joe hard," the president continued. "Funny, I'm only here because of Biden & Obama. They didn't do the job and now you have Trump, who is getting it done—big time!"

Biden has been considered a front-runner in the Democratic primary, polling as a leader along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for months.