Former President Barack Obama is set to start a campaign trail blitz to support Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the White House, kicking off in Pittsburgh next Thursday. Over the final 27 days leading up to the election, Obama will travel extensively across key swing states.
The Harris campaign confirmed Obama’s involvement, highlighting the long-standing friendship between the two, which dates back 20 years to Obama’s Senate run. Notably, Obama, along with other prominent Democrats, played a pivotal role in persuading President Joe Biden to step aside in the 2024 race.
Obama’s active campaigning for Harris will provide a striking contrast to Biden’s relatively limited public appearances since clearing the path for Harris’ candidacy. As a highly influential figure in the Democratic Party, Obama’s presence on the trail is expected to significantly boost Harris’ momentum.
In Obama’s speech at the Democratic convention in August, he said Harris “wasn’t born into privilege. She had to work for what she’s got.”
“And she actually cares about what other people are going through,” the former president said.
Harris was an early supporter of Obama’s 2008 presidential bid, and knocked doors for him in Iowa ahead of its caucus that led off voting in the Democratic primary.