In a fiery campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, former President Barack Obama launched a blistering attack on Donald Trump, highlighting the importance of this key battleground state in the 2024 presidential election. Obama, speaking in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, argued that Trump is fundamentally unfit to lead the country. He painted a picture of a self-serving billionaire who prioritizes his own interests over the needs of ordinary Americans.
Obama acknowledged the tight race between Harris and Trump, emphasizing the crucial nature of this election, particularly in Pennsylvania. He pointed to the margin-of-error race and the ongoing early voting across the nation. ‘This election’s going to be tight, because there are a lot of Americans who are still struggling out there,’ Obama said.
Obama then launched into a critique of Trump’s economic record. He argued that the perception of a better economy under Trump was a mirage, claiming that the positive job growth during that period was a direct result of policies he implemented during his presidency. ‘Just in case everybody has a hazy memory… he didn’t do nothing except those big tax cuts,’ Obama asserted, emphasizing that these tax cuts disproportionately benefited wealthy Americans and big businesses.
Obama went on to criticize Trump’s constant attempts to sell products, drawing attention to his ventures in selling gold sneakers, a $100,000 watch, and even a ‘Trump Bible.’ ‘Who does that? Selling you gold sneakers and a $100,000 watch and most recently a Trump bible… you could not make this stuff up. If you saw it on Saturday Night Live, you’d say ‘well that’s going too far.’ Well, he’s doing that. It’s crazy,’ Obama said with a hint of incredulity.
Obama’s choice of Pittsburgh as his first campaign stop was no surprise. It’s the largest city and a Democratic stronghold in Pennsylvania, a state critical to both Biden’s 2020 victory and potentially Harris’ 2024 success. Pennsylvania, along with six other battleground states, hold the key to determining the outcome of the election.
Obama’s rally was part of a larger coordinated effort to mobilize voters for Harris. The campaign also announced former President Bill Clinton’s involvement in the race, with stops planned in Georgia and North Carolina. Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, formally endorsed Harris for president back in July, five days after President Biden announced he would not be seeking re-election.
Obama’s passionate speech highlighted the importance of the upcoming election and aimed to energize voters to support Harris. He argued that Harris is the best candidate to address the challenges facing Americans and that she possesses the necessary leadership qualities to guide the country forward. The rally marked the beginning of Obama’s active role in the campaign, with plans for further ‘get out the vote’ events across the nation in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
