Former President Obama will begin campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time starting next week as the race for the White House heats up.
His appearance comes as the campaign begins to feature a number of major parties, as Saturday marks one month until the November election, as the presidential race looks set to be exciting.
While both the former president and former first lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Harris for president, neither of them have come out to travel for her beyond appearing at the convention. That is expected to change soon.
The former president will begin his campaign to get out the vote starting Thursday, October 10 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania is perhaps the most important swing state this election season.
The former president plans to hold rallies in battleground states before Election Day while promoting Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, as well as Democrats who did not vote against him.
Former President Barack Obama will embark on Kamala Harris’ election campaign beginning with a stop Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their plans raised the question: what about Michelle?
“President Obama believes the stakes in this election couldn’t be more momentous, and that’s why he’s doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris, Governor Walz, and Democrats across the country,” he said. Obama’s senior advisor, Eric Schultz.
Schultz said the goal is to win the White House, keep the Senate and flip the House. He said the goal is to persuade and mobilize voters and stated: ““Nothing should be taken for granted.”
But while Obama will go on tour, perhaps the other biggest draw for Democrats in the 2024 election campaign is his wife Michelle.
An exclusive poll for DailyMail.com last month found that the Obamas’ endorsement had the biggest effect for Harris, more so than endorsements from Oprah Winfrey or Taylor Swift.
The former first couple made that endorsement in a video in late July.
Former first couple Barack and Michelle Obama on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. DailyMail.com poll found his endorsement of Harris had the biggest effect
While the former first lady has yet to announce any upcoming campaign appearances, her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August stole the show, upstaging even her husband, whom she introduced.
His scathing criticism of Donald Trump received thunderous applause from Democrats and resonated across the Internet.
Before taking the stage, it was unclear that the former first lady would make an appearance in Chicago. The last time he was there was to remember his late mother.
The politics-averse former first lady even acknowledged she wasn’t sure she was up to the task during her speech, but said she felt obligated to come forward and honor her mother’s memory.
With that, he delivered a powerful and heartfelt speech to the vice president.
‘My girl, Kamala Harris, is more than ready for this moment. “He is one of the most qualified people to run for the presidency,” he said in his comments.
He also told his followers to “work as if our lives depended on it.”
Former first lady Michelle Obama delivered a sharp rebuke of former President Trump during her speech at the Democratic National Committee.
Since his spectacular speech, Obama has not walked the walk, but has publicly encouraged people to register to vote through his social media platforms through When We All Vote.
Obama praises Harris for her September debate performance on Instagram
Obama also had high praise for the vice president, including after the September presidential debate when he wrote that Harris is the ‘“The only candidate in this race who is ready to be president.”
It could be only a matter of time before the former first lady gets going, as she herself has advocated for people to “Roll up your sleeves and DO SOMETHING.’
Earlier this year, Axios reported that Obama was not campaigning for Biden due to a family dispute as she was close to Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle. The White House questioned whether the relationship was strained.
During the 2020 pandemic, Obama did not participate in Biden’s campaign, but he did present a closing argument to him in October in video form.
In 2016, he made his first solo appearance at Hillary Clinton’s campaign trail in Virginia in mid-September before the election, the first of several campaign stops.
Former first lady Michelle Obama campaigning with Hillary Clinton on October 27, 2016 in North Carolina ahead of the 2016 election.
But he did not appear with Clinton in person until late October, when they made a joint visit to North Carolina. This crucial state could see another narrow election this year.
For now, the former first lady has stayed busy working with a number of organizations and projects, in addition to touring the country promoting her latest book.
At the same time, her husband has been helping with fundraising and editing a series of ads for Democrats in competitive races before hitting the road for the vice presidency.
To date, Fundraising content and events signed by or featuring Obama have raised more than $76 million in the presidential race.
It will also sign additional fundraising appeals and assist in down-elections through adverts and robocalls in the future.