In a move designed to energize the Democratic campaign in the crucial final days leading up to the 2024 US Presidential elections, former President Barack Obama will be joining Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail. Starting next Thursday in Pittsburgh, Obama will be lending his star power to Harris’s bid for the White House, campaigning in key battleground states across the country.
Obama’s senior advisor, Eric Schultz, stated that the former president “believes the stakes of this election could not be more consequential and that is why he is doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris, Governor [and vice presidential nominee Tim] Walz and Democrats across the country.”
The friendship between Obama and Harris spans over 20 years, dating back to their initial meeting during his Senate campaign. Their close relationship led Obama to endorse Harris after persuading President Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 race. In his powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Obama positioned Harris, America’s first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, as the political heir to his own trailblazing legacy.
During his speech, Obama rallied the crowd with chants of “Yes she can,” a clear play on the iconic “Yes we can” slogan from his 2008 campaign. He acknowledged the challenges of the 2024 election, calling it a “tight race in a deeply divided country.”
Obama highlighted Harris’s background, emphasizing her hard work and determination. He said, “She wasn’t born into privilege. She had to work for what she’s got.” He further praised her character, stating, “And she actually cares about what other people are going through.”
Their partnership goes back to the early days of Obama’s 2008 presidential bid, with Harris serving as an early supporter and engaging in door-to-door campaigning in Iowa during the crucial caucus that kick-started the Democratic primary. Obama’s involvement in the campaign underscores the critical importance of the 2024 elections and the fierce battle for the White House.
