Barack Obama Campaigns for Kamala Harris, Urges Support from Black Men

 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama made his first appearance on the campaign trail for Vice President Kamala Harris, addressing a rally in Pennsylvania and an event aimed at Black voters. At the Harris campaign office, Obama specifically called on Black men to reconsider their reluctance to support her, noting a recent NAACP poll showing over a quarter of Black men under 50 intending to vote for Donald Trump.

Obama addressed the disparity in voter energy, particularly among Black men, compared to when he ran for president. "You're coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses. I’ve got a problem with that," he said, adding that some may be uncomfortable with the idea of a female president. "Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and reasons for that."

Later, at a rally in Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House, Obama urged Pennsylvania residents to support Harris and re-elect Democratic candidates, including Senator Bob Casey. “We need a president who cares about solving problems and making your life better, and that’s what Kamala Harris will do,” he said. He emphasized the importance of a Democratic Senate, calling Casey a "serious public servant."

Pennsylvania, a key swing state with 19 electoral votes, is crucial in the upcoming election. Polls show a close race between Harris and Trump, and the state may also determine control of the Senate, with Casey facing a strong Republican opponent, David McCormick.

Obama and Harris have long supported each other’s campaigns. Harris endorsed Obama during his 2007 presidential run, and Obama backed her 2010 bid for California Attorney General.

During the Pittsburgh event, Obama acknowledged voters' frustrations with inflation and post-COVID challenges but criticized Trump, saying, "What I cannot understand is why anybody would think that Donald Trump will shake things up in a way that is good for you."

In closing, Obama reinforced a message to Black men, stating, “Real strength is about helping people who need it and standing up for those who can’t always stand up for themselves.” He urged voters to embrace Harris’s platform, which he believes offers real plans to improve their lives.

Other Democratic surrogates are also campaigning in key swing states. Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz, is scheduled for events in Wisconsin, while Bernie Sanders, Bill Clinton, and Michelle Obama will host events in other battleground regions.

Meanwhile, Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance held a town hall in Greensboro, North Carolina, shortly after Trump spoke in Detroit.