Skip to main content Skip to footer 
Former U.S. President Barack Obama is set to campaign alongside Vice President Kamala Harris in the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania on Thursday, as Democrats face an uphill battle against former President Donald Trump ahead of the November election. Obama will lead a rally in Pittsburgh, marking the start of his month-long tour through key battleground states to encourage early voting.
While Harris is campaigning in Nevada and Arizona to connect with Latino voters, Obama’s involvement is expected to bring renewed energy to her campaign. The vice president, who replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee earlier this year, has been locked in a tight race with Trump, with both candidates neck-and-neck in key states.
“President Obama believes this is an all-hands-on-deck moment, which is why he’ll do everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris,” his office said, emphasizing the high stakes of the upcoming election. Obama’s focus will be on urging early voting in Pennsylvania, a state crucial to securing victory.
As Harris continues her campaign efforts, she also participated in a virtual briefing on Hurricane Milton, which recently struck Florida. Trump, in response, ramped up his attacks on the Harris administration’s handling of the disaster. “Hopefully on January 20, you’ll have someone who will truly help you,” Trump said in a video message to Florida residents, where he lives.
Trump’s campaign also took aim at Harris over economic issues, with campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stating, “Kamala Harris’s terrible economic policies continue to hurt Americans.” Rising inflation remains a central issue in the race, with concerns about the economy influencing voter sentiment.
Highlighting Pennsylvania’s importance, Trump held a rally in Scranton on Wednesday and is set to visit Detroit, Michigan, another key battleground, on Thursday. Harris, meanwhile, has confirmed her participation in a CNN town hall in Pennsylvania on October 23, following Trump’s decision to decline a final televised debate with her.
Despite her initial momentum after replacing Biden, and raising over $1 billion in campaign funds, Harris remains in a close race with Trump both nationally and in swing states. Democrats are counting on Obama’s influence to rally support, with the former president expected to remind voters of the critical importance of this election.
Obama, who has raised more than $76 million for Harris’s campaign, has endorsed the vice president as his political successor, praising her historic role as the first Black and South Asian woman to hold the office. However, he warned that 2024 will be “a tight race in a closely divided country.”
In addition to Obama’s efforts, former President Bill Clinton is expected to campaign for Harris in other key states in the coming days, signaling a united Democratic push to secure victory in the upcoming election.
