Former U.S. President Barack Obama is set to bring his influence to Kamala Harris’s campaign in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania on Thursday, as Democrats face a tough battle against Donald Trump.
Obama, the nation’s first Black president, will rally voters in Pittsburgh, kicking off a month-long tour of battleground states to encourage early voting ahead of the November election. His support comes as Democrats aim to tip the scales in a tightly contested race.
Meanwhile, Harris is traveling to key swing states, including Nevada and Arizona, to connect with Latino voters. Despite her campaign efforts, the White House confirmed that she also participated in a virtual briefing on Hurricane Milton, which recently struck Florida.
Former President Trump, a Republican, ramped up his criticisms of Harris and President Joe Biden, specifically targeting their response to the hurricane. Trump has labeled Biden’s administration as an “onslaught of lies” and, in a video message to Floridians, hinted at a leadership change after the election, saying, “Hopefully on January 20 you’re going to have someone who’s really going to help you.”
Trump’s campaign also attacked Harris on economic issues, particularly inflation, which remains a central concern for many voters. “Kamala Harris’s terrible economic policies continue to hit the American people where it hurts,” said campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
Pennsylvania’s significance in the 2024 race was highlighted by Trump’s recent rally in Biden’s hometown of Scranton, followed by a trip to Detroit, another battleground in Michigan. Harris, on the other hand, has accepted an invitation to a CNN town hall in Pennsylvania on October 23, after Trump declined a final debate with her.
Democrats hope Obama, now 63, can energize Harris’s campaign. Although she initially surged in the polls after replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee, the race with Trump remains extremely close both nationally and in key swing states.
“President Obama believes this is an all-hands-on-deck moment, which is why he’ll do everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris,” said a statement from his office. Obama is expected to emphasize the stakes of the election and push for early voting in Pennsylvania, a state that could be decisive.
While Democrats have historically favored early voting, Trump has criticized it, particularly mail-in ballots, which he blamed for his 2020 loss to Biden.
Obama, who endorsed Harris after Biden exited the race in July, remains highly influential within the Democratic Party. He and former First Lady Michelle Obama gave powerful speeches in support of Harris at the Democratic National Convention, portraying her as a political successor to his own groundbreaking presidency.
During his rallies, Obama led chants of “Yes she can,” a nod to his 2008 slogan “Yes we can,” but cautioned that the 2024 race will be tight in a deeply divided country. Obama has already helped raise more than $76 million for the Democratic ticket this election cycle.
Additionally, former President Bill Clinton is expected to campaign for Harris in battleground states in the coming days, according to reports.