Former President Barack Obama showed up in Wisconsin on Tuesday to support Vice President Kamala Harris, but at least one rally wanted to turn back time.
“Miss you,” the Madison attendee shouted at the former two-term commander-in-chief.
“I miss you too,” Obama responded before returning to igniting the crowd in support of Harris with a blistering attack on her rival, former President Donald Trump, over the economy.
Obama accused Trump of taking credit for an economy he built during his eight years as president in the run-up to Trump’s presidency.
Obama was appearing at a rally in Madison with Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, when he fired up Trump.
“I’ve talked to some people and they’ll say, ‘Yeah, but you know, I remember the economy was pretty good when Trump first came into office,’” Obama said. ‘And I said, ‘Yes, because it was my economy.’
“I spent eight years cleaning up the mess Republicans left behind,” Obama continued. “I spent eight years getting the auto industry back on track and reopening factories.”
Former President Obama spoke Tuesday at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, where he accused Donald Trump of taking credit for the economy he built over two terms in office
Obama’s rally in Madison It wasn’t the first time he accused Trump of stealing credit for his economy.
The Democratic former president first made a similar claim during a solo rally earlier this month.
“When I handed 75 consecutive months of job growth to Donald Trump, all he did was give a tax cut to people who didn’t need it,” Obama said Tuesday.
He pointed out that Trump was also driving up deficits at the same time.
“So don’t have any nostalgia for what his economy was,” Obama said incredulously. “Because it was mine.”
Obama came to power as the country and the world faced the Great Recession that began in late 2007 and lasted until mid-2009.
It had a significant economic and political impact on the United States, with some sectors taking years to recover.
Obama appeared in Wisconsin alongside Harris’ running mate Tim Walz. It was their first appearance together in the 2024 campaign
Harris supporters watched as Obama spoke in Madison. At one point, someone in the crowd shouted, “I miss you.” The former president replied: ‘I miss you too’
Obama also claimed that Trump wanted to once again steal the glory of his eight years as president.
The former president pointed out that the Republican presidential candidate wanted to end the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, during his time in office.
“The problem he has now is that it’s popular because 50 million people have used it and are still using it,” Obama said.
That’s when Obama criticized Trump’s running mate JD Vance, accusing him of having the “chutzpah” to take the stage during the vice presidential debate and say Trump “saved” the Affordable Care Act.
“Come on man, Donald Trump has spent his entire presidency trying to tear it down,” Obama said. “And he couldn’t even do that properly.”
Obama also blasted Trump for saying during his own debate that he has “concepts for a plan” to replace Obamacare.
Obama greets his supporters after speaking with Walz at the rally. On Thursday he will campaign with Harris for the first time in Atlanta
He joked that people could try it at home and replied to the question about the dishes, “not yet, but I do have a concept for the dishes.”
The audience loved it.
“If it didn’t work for you, it shouldn’t work for the president of the United States,” Obama said.
Obama has held a series of campaign events for Harris and Walz in various battleground states, but Tuesday marked his first campaign appearance in the presence of the Democratic vice presidential nominee.
The former president will hold his first campaign event with Harris in Atlanta on Thursday.