On Sunday in Toledo, answering questions during a town hall meeting, Obama led and Biden deftly chimed in. When Biden began to veer, as he's known to, Obama interrupted smoothly and steered the discussion back.

Establishing rapport, which Biden told reporters Sunday night has occurred effortlessly in the past several days, couldn't have come sooner for them as most polls show Obama's lead against imminent Republican nominee John McCain reduced to a statistical tie.

A critical battle lay in swing states Pennsylvania and Ohio, which is why they were chosen as the first and second destinations of the duo's bus tour. Obama has struggled to gain ground among working- and middle-class voters in the two states after losing both Democratic primaries. He is counting on Biden's own working-class and Catholic roots to bridge the gap.

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