Obama rallies Democrats in Ohio and Michigan, condemning Trump and allies' campaign tactics
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Barack Obama campaigned in Ohio and Michigan, blasting President Donald Trump and Republican candidates over a vicious ad and urging Democrats to turn out in force ahead of the midterm elections.
Barack Obama visited Ohio and Michigan on Saturday, using the stops to energize Democratic voters ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. In Ohio, he took aim at Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, denouncing an advertising campaign that cynically featured the estranged mother of Democratic health official Dr. Amy Acton. Obama said, "In recent days, we've seen there is no line he will not cross, no low he will not sink to," and pointed to Acton's personal history of abuse and homelessness as evidence of the cruelty at the heart of the attack.
In Detroit, Obama defended Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, arguing that critics were shamelessly exploiting his name and faith. He told the audience, "Abdul is as Michigan as it gets," and drew on his own experience with political smears. The former president also condemned President Donald Trump, accusing him of corruption and of obsessing over personal projects at the White House, quipping, "He should be on HGTV."
Trump voted in Florida on the same day and defended the Ramaswamy ad, stating, "The mother said that Amy Acton is a liar, and she's no good. And you know what? I don't think you can get a better reference on that."
Local voters said Obama's appearances could help drive turnout. One Detroit resident said the speech "pumps you up to vote," while another noted that some Black voters remain skeptical of progressive candidates. Obama concluded by urging voters to reject what he described as "chaos, cruelty, corruption and incompetence" and to vote for change.
Obama is scheduled to headline a rally in Georgia next week with Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms.