Former President Obama will campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time starting next week, as the race for the White House intensifies.
His appearance comes as the campaign begins to roll out a string of heavy hits. Saturday marks one month until the November election, as the presidential race appears to be a nail-biter.
While both the former president and former First Lady Michelle Obama have both endorsed Harris for president, neither has gone out for her beyond appearing at the convention. This is expected to change soon.
The ex-president will launch his election campaign in Pittsburgh on Thursday, October 10. Pennsylvania may be the most important swing state this election season.
The former president plans to hold rallies in battleground states leading up to Election Day, while promoting Harris and running mate Tim Walz as well as down-ballot Democrats.
Former President Barack Obama will hit the campaign trail for Kamala Harris, starting with a stop on Thursday in Pittsburgh, PA. His plans begged the question: What about Michelle?
“President Obama believes the stakes of this election couldn’t be higher, which is why he is doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris, Governor Walz and Democrats across the country,” said Obama’s senior adviser Eric Schultz.
Schultz said the goal is to win the White House, keep the Senate and flip the House. He said the focus is on convincing and mobilizing voters, stating: ‘nothing should be taken for granted.”
But as Obama hits the road, the other biggest draw for Democrats on the 2024 campaign trail might be his wife, Michelle.
An exclusive poll for DailyMail.com last month found that Obama’s support had the biggest effect on Harris, even more than support from Oprah Winfrey or Taylor Swift.
The former first couple announced this in a video at the end of July.
Former first couple Barack and Michelle Obama on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. DailyMail.com polls showed their support for Harris had the biggest effect
Although the former first lady has yet to announce any upcoming campaign appearances, her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August stole the show and even overshadowed the husband she introduced.
Her scathing attack on Donald Trump received thunderous applause from Democrats and reverberated across the internet.
Before she took the stage, it wasn’t clear that the former first lady would even perform in Chicago. The last time she was there was to remember her late mother.
The politically unfavorable former first lady even acknowledged during her speech that she wasn’t sure she was up to the task, but she said she felt compelled to show up and honor her mother’s memory.
In doing so, she made a powerful and heartfelt pitch to the vice president.
“My girl, Kamala Harris, is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people to ever run for president,” she said in her remarks.
She also told supporters: ‘let’s work as if our lives depend on it.’
Former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a scathing rebuke to former President Trump during her speech to the DNC
Since her impressive speech, Obama has been off the rails, but she has publicly encouraged people to register to vote on her social media platforms via When We All Vote.
Obama praised Harris for her September debate performance on Instagram
Obama also offered high praise for the vice president, including after the presidential debate in September, when she wrote that Harris was the “the only candidate in this race who is ready to be president.”
It could only be a matter of time before the former first lady hits the road, as she herself has advocated for people’roll up your sleeves and DO SOMETHING.’
Earlier this year, Axios reported that Obama did not campaign for Biden due to a family dispute because she was close to Hunter Biden’s ex-wife Kathleen Buhle. The White House disputed that the relationship was tense.
Obama did not act for Biden during the 2020 pandemic, but she did deliver a closing argument for him in the form of a video in October.
In 2016, she made her first solo appearance on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton in Virginia in mid-September before the election, the first of several campaign stops.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama campaigns with Hillary Clinton on October 27, 2016 in North Carolina ahead of the 2016 election
But she did not appear in person next to Clinton until late October, when they made a state visit together to North Carolina. The crucial state could see another razor-thin election this year.
For now, the former first lady has been busy working with a number of organizations and projects and traveling the country to promote her latest book.
At the same time, her husband helped fundraise and create a series of ads for Democrats in competitive races before running for vice president.