Barack Obama to hit campaign trail for Harris this evening; Michelle Obama relaunches voter turnout drive
As former president Barack Obama is hitting the campaign trail for Harris this evening, former first lady, Michelle Obama, through her national, non-partisan voting initiative When We All Vote has relaunched Party at the Polls, the organization’s program to increase voter turnout.
In a news release announcing the relaunch, When We All Vote said that during the month of October and into November, the organization’s partners and volunteers will host nonpartisan celebrations near early voting locations across the country in order to “increase voter turnout and bring their communities together to cast their ballots”.
The parties are free to attend and open to everyone in the community, it added.
Key events
“For Trump, freedom is getting away with stuff,” says Obama.
Trump failed to take responsibility during the pandemic, says Obama.
He cites Trump’s infamous words: ““I don’t take any responsibility at all”.
To help Harris achieve her policies, she will need a senate “full of serious public servants,” he says. Republicans are widely viewed as being more likely to win the Senate this year, which will make it difficult for Harris, if she wins, to get legislation through.
Trump “thinks fear mongering is how he’s gonna win this election,” Obama says.
Someone in the crowd shouts, “vote”.
Obama turns to immigration, saying if Trump had all the answers – he mentions walls, and separations and deportations – why didn’t he solve the crisis when he was in office?
“He had concepts of a plan. And the plan was ugly,” says Obama.
“I don’t have to tell a lot of you, raising kids is hard,” Obama says. Harris wants to make it easier to afford things like a crib, or car seat, or diapers.
He remembers the sticker shock at the cost of diapers.
“I also remembered changing diapers,” he says. “Do you think Donald Trump ever changed a diaper?”.
Someone in the crowd yells something, and Obama says, chuckling, “I thought of saying that, but I didn’t.”
Obama talks about Harris’s policies on the economy, first time homebuyers, tax cuts for middle class and working people, and healthcare costs.
Obama is doing a bit about Trump saying he has a “concept of a plan” for healthcare.
Imagine saying that to your wife when she asks you to do the dishes, Obama says.
“If it wouldn’t work for you, why in the heck should it work for the president of the United States?” Obama says.
“The good news is Kamala Harris has an actual plan.”
Donald Trump’s message when it comes to increasing costs is, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
When it comes to healthcare, Trump has one answer: ending the affordable healthcare act that 44 million people rely on.
The act is known colloquially as Obamacare.
“The question is who’s really gonna do something about it,” he says, of the economy.
Donald Trump will give tax cuts to billionaires, Obama says. Someone boos. “Don’t boo. I’m gonna break you of this habit,” Obama says.
And when Trump boasts of his economy – “That’s because it was my economy,” Obama says, to huge cheers.
“I spent eight years cleaning up the mess the Republicans made the last time,” Obama says.
“Just in case anyone has a hazy memory: he didn’t do nothing. Except those big tax cuts.”
“Kamala is as prepared for the job as any nominee for president has ever been,” Obama says. “And in the White House she will have an outstanding partner in governor Tim Walz. Tim is a veteran. He’s a teacher. He’s a coach. He’s a hunter.”
Walz has a record of working with Republicans and Democrats to get things done, Obama says.
“He can also take a vintage truck apart and put it together. Do you think Donald Trump can do that? For that matter, do you think Donald Trump has ever changed a tyre in his life?”.
The crowd laughs.
Obama seems relaxed, he’s getting laughs, if he is using the teleprompter, you can’t tell. Which is to say: it bodes well for his upcoming campaign surrogate tour for Harris.
Obama talks about January 6th. If Trump wouldn’t protect his own vice president, he says. “What makes you think he cares about you?”
Trump wants people to be divided and angry, says Obama, because he thinks it boosts his chances.
“He doesn’t care who gets hurt,” Obama says.
“It’s crazy,” Obama says, his voice taking on a high pitch for emphasis.
Trump sees power as means to an end, says Obama
Donald Trump “sees power as a means to an end”, Obama says.
Obama has just compared Donald Trump to Fidel Castro.
He takes aim at Trump’s social media posts. “Constantly trying to sell you stuff,” he says.
A Trump bible, for example. “You could not make this stuff up. If you saw it on Saturday Night Live, you’d say, this is too much.”
“What I cannot understand is why anybody would think that Donald Trump will shake things up in a way that’s good for you Pennsylvania,” he says.
“Because there is absolutely no evidence that this man thinks about anybody but himself.”
Obama is wearing a blue button down, sleeves rolled up: informal, approachable. A look that says: I like pancakes and understand the youth.
“I mean I am the hopey changey guy,” he says.
There are three ways to vote, Obama says.
You can vote early, request a mail-in ballot, or vote on November fifth.
“Bit if you’re at this rally, you’re probably voting,” he says, “unless you’re 12”.
“But even if you’re 12,” you can help encourage your friends and family to vote, he says.
