As the 2024 presidential race tightens, former President Barack Obama has hit the campaign trail to rally support for Vice President Kamala Harris. On October 10, Obama headlined a major event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—a key battleground state—hoping to energize Democratic voters ahead of November’s election. The Harris campaign is relying on Obama’s enduring popularity to boost voter turnout, particularly among young people, Black voters, and suburban whites, groups crucial to Harris's electoral chances.
Obama’s presence signals the Harris campaign's shift into high gear, moving from fundraising to mobilizing voters. Pennsylvania’s early voting period has already started, and the former president is working to ensure the Democratic base votes early, especially in urban strongholds like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Polls show Harris holding a slight lead over former President Donald Trump in the state, but she is still facing challenges in key demographics, particularly among Black men.
Full video of Barack Obama in Pennsylvania tonight shaming young black men into supporting Kamala Harris.
He seems to think that just because the black community turned out for him in 2008 that they’re just supposed to turn out for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Kamala Harris does… pic.twitter.com/fOkiBcpaDi
— Link Lauren (@itslinklauren) October 11, 2024
With less than a month to go before Election Day, Obama’s involvement is part of a broader strategy to counteract Republican momentum and turn out voters in swing states.
Campaign insiders note that Obama’s appeal remains unmatched within the Democratic Party. "He’s the biggest gun Democrats have in their arsenal," said Cornell Belcher, a pollster for Obama’s campaigns. His ability to connect with both Black voters and suburban whites is seen as vital to Harris's chances.
BREAKING NEWS: @BarackObama sent out by White liberals to “Blackman-splain” to get Black men to vote for @KamalaHarris. Wait, his mother and Kamala’s mother are both “WHITE.”
Obama doesn’t even have Black neighbors, and 99% of his handlers are White.
I don’t have anything in… pic.twitter.com/0cb5WEr0hs
— Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) October 11, 2024
Despite Obama’s star power, the Harris campaign has acknowledged concerns about voter enthusiasm. Harris has struggled to match the support levels that President Biden received in 2020 among key constituencies. According to a recent poll, her numbers among Black voters have yet to reach the heights Biden achieved. Obama’s presence is expected to help bridge that gap, particularly as he remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party.
In addition to rallying for Harris, Obama is also stumping for down-ballot candidates, including Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, who faces a tough re-election battle. The Democrats are banking on Obama’s ability to inspire higher voter participation, which they hope will translate into victories across the ticket.
As Election Day approaches, Harris’s campaign has embraced an aggressive outreach strategy. Harris recently appeared on popular media platforms like CBS's "60 Minutes" and podcasts aimed at younger voters. The campaign is also targeting Latino voters, launching a specific outreach effort called "Hombres con Harris" in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Nevada.
Obama’s rally in Pittsburgh is just the beginning of a multi-state push to energize voters in the final days before the election. The former president is scheduled to make additional appearances in other battleground states, marking a full-court press by the Democratic Party to hold onto the White House.
