Former Vice President Joe Biden is bringing his American Promise Tour to the home turf of his likely rival for the 2020 Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Biden is scheduled to appear at 3 p.m Sunday at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.

The event -- billed as "a series of conversations that will go beyond the 24-hour news cycle and 140-character arguments to connect friends and neighbors around the topics that matter most" -- is part of a tour to promote his latest book, "Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose."

Almost certainly, however, it is Biden setting the stage for a run to challenge President Donald Trump less than two years from now. And that he's including Sanders' state on the tour is an interesting way to test the waters.

More:Former Vice President Joe Biden coming to Burlington in December

Biden: 'Most qualified' to be president

On Monday, Dec. 3, Biden said he considers himself to be “the most qualified person in the country” to be president and that he would make a decision about a presidential bid in the next two months.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Nov. 6 has Biden at the top of a crowded field of potential Democratic 2020 hopefuls with 29 percent. Sanders was second with 22 percent.

Both the former vice president and the Vermont senators have been in the lead pack of most polls testing support for those who are considering running for the Democratic nomination.

More:VT Insights: 5 signs Bernie Sanders is running in 2020

Sanders, who surprised many with his strong showing against Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, has so far refused to give a definite answer about his 2020 plans. But the Vermont independent's recent behavior has the look of someone preparing a presidential run.

Loose change and pancakes

Biden last visited Burlington in October 2016 when he visited the University of Vermont to talk about cancer research. On that trip, he ate blueberry pancakes at Penny Cluse Cafe in Burlington, and picked up small change he found on the ground on his way out of the restaurant.

Biden appeared with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and his wife Marcelle, as well as Sue Minter, the Democratic candidate for governor who lost to Republican Phil Scott that November.

At that time, Democrats still believed Clinton would defeat Trump, and the idea of Biden ever becoming president seemed remote.

Trump's stunning victory changed everything then. And on Sunday, it puts a much greater spotlight on Biden's return trip to Vermont, with a lot at stake for both Biden and for Sanders.

More:Veep eats blueberry pancakes at Penny Cluse Cafe in BTV

Aki Soga is insights and engagement editor for the Burlington Free Press. Email him at asoga@freepressmedia.com