Joe Biden’s message drowned out by beat of the Republican culture-war drum

Democrats struggle to tell a good-news story, raising fears of midterm losses in November

The interruption was unplanned but Joe Biden immediately knew this was no ordinary heckler. I agree!" he told a babbling baby as the audience laughed. I agree completely. By the way, kids are allowed to do anything they want when I speak so don't worry about it."

It was a welcome note of light relief during a speech that could not be described as blockbuster television. Beside a blue sign that said Building a Better America", perched on a white boat at the New Hampshire Port Authority in Portsmouth, the US president was last week trying to gin up enthusiasm about infrastructure investment and supply chains.