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Obama ‘never lost hope' the past four years

Obama, one of the Democratic Party's biggest stars and a frequent target of Trump's attacks, joined a roundtable discussion with Philadelphia Black male politicians and community and religious leaders before a 6 p.m. (2200 GMT) outdoor drive-in rally to urge supporters to vote early for Biden and other Democratic candidates.

When asked if he'd maintained the sense of hope that he campaigned on in 2008, Obama said he'd "never lost hope over these last four years. I've been mad. I've been frustrated, but I haven't lost hope. And the reason is is because I never expected progress to move directly in a straight line."

"Hope is not blind optimism," Obama added. "Hope is not ignoring problems. Hope is believing, in the face of difficulty. that we can overcome and get a better world."

Obama's appearance on the campaign trail this week fills a gap left by Biden, who has stayed at home in Delaware since Monday for meetings and preparation ahead of this week's debate with Trump in Nashville, Tennessee. Biden was Obama's vice president for eight years.