How Barack Obama riles Donald Trump on Harris' campaign trail
Posted on 10/12/2024
The real Obama effect
My former boss Barack Obama, who also happens to remain a beloved figure among Democrats, hit the trail Thursday on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris. The benefits are obvious. He remains the best speaker, perhaps second only to his wife, Michelle Obama, in the Democratic Party. He is very popular among key groups including Black voters, independents, women in the suburbs and young people. And he certainly has some things to get off his chest.
And though we are 24 days away from Election Day, registration deadlines are approaching in a number of states. And in several key swing states, voting has already begun.
Obama’s goal of pushing people out the door is clear. He is great at that. But that’s not the only benefit. There are few politicians who drive Donald Trump crazier. And Obama clearly knows that, hence his DNC joke about size. Obama had what Trump could never achieve: two scandal-free terms and soaring popularity when he left office. In fact, when they met in the Oval Office just two days after the election, Obama’s popularity was already on Trump’s mind.
Obama plans to do rallies in numerous battleground states between now and November. And yes, the intention is definitely to rally support, to energize people. But I’ll be watching closely to see how Trump copes with watching Obama — a man more popular than he could ever hope to be — jab at him over and over again on the campaign trail with Harris.
A story you should be following: Republicans challenge overseas ballots
We’ve spent a lot of time on the show talking about Republican efforts to suppress the vote, rather than earn it. Just as critical are Republicans’ efforts to tee up claims of election fraud if Trump doesn’t win.
This week, Republicans in Pennsylvania filed a new lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of ballots cast by U.S. citizens abroad. Traditionally, both parties have supported overseas voting, which is how many military members cast their votes. But this year, members of Congress have asked local officials to “set these ballots aside” until the identity of each voter can be verified, claiming they are highly vulnerable to fraud.
Pennsylvania election officials are confident the suit won’t hold up given the timing, and the fact that state laws governing overseas ballots have been in place for over 40 years. However the real concern is what election litigation experts are calling “zombie lawsuits” — litigation that is unlikely to succeed now but could set the stage for future post-election challenges and provide Republicans with ample runway to falsely claim that mail-in ballots were somehow fraudulent.
A race to watch: Baldwin vs. Hovde
One of the closest Senate races to watch this cycle is in Wisconsin, where Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin takes on Republican businessman Eric Hovde.
Baldwin made history in 1998 as the first openly lesbian woman elected to Congress. Since then, she’s fought for LGBTQ rights, health care protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and to lower the prices of prescription drugs.
Hovde has never held political office, but as a successful businessman with Trump’s endorsement, he was easily able to win the state’s Republican primary.
The majority of polls put Baldwin in the lead, but the race is tightening. And thanks to a massive ad buy from the Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund, as well as a $2 million investment from Hovde, Republicans are on pace to outspend Democrats in Wisconsin every week until Election Day.
Tomorrow, Baldwin will be on the show to discuss her Senate race in Wisconsin. For now, here’s her weekend routine.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s weekend routine
What time do you wake up on the weekend?
On my very rare day off, I sleep until I wake up naturally. I make coffee, catch up on the news and read my emails. I usually have a carpentry and/or a sewing project going, so I spend a bit of time working on that before I start my day!
What’s the last book you read?
“Empire of Pain,”by Patrick Radden Keefe.
What show are you bingeing right now?
It’s campaign season so I don’t have time to binge-watch anything!
How do you take your coffee?
My former boss Barack Obama, who also happens to remain a beloved figure among Democrats, hit the trail Thursday on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris. The benefits are obvious. He remains the best speaker, perhaps second only to his wife, Michelle Obama, in the Democratic Party. He is very popular among key groups including Black voters, independents, women in the suburbs and young people. And he certainly has some things to get off his chest.
And though we are 24 days away from Election Day, registration deadlines are approaching in a number of states. And in several key swing states, voting has already begun.
Obama’s goal of pushing people out the door is clear. He is great at that. But that’s not the only benefit. There are few politicians who drive Donald Trump crazier. And Obama clearly knows that, hence his DNC joke about size. Obama had what Trump could never achieve: two scandal-free terms and soaring popularity when he left office. In fact, when they met in the Oval Office just two days after the election, Obama’s popularity was already on Trump’s mind.
Obama plans to do rallies in numerous battleground states between now and November. And yes, the intention is definitely to rally support, to energize people. But I’ll be watching closely to see how Trump copes with watching Obama — a man more popular than he could ever hope to be — jab at him over and over again on the campaign trail with Harris.
A story you should be following: Republicans challenge overseas ballots
We’ve spent a lot of time on the show talking about Republican efforts to suppress the vote, rather than earn it. Just as critical are Republicans’ efforts to tee up claims of election fraud if Trump doesn’t win.
This week, Republicans in Pennsylvania filed a new lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of ballots cast by U.S. citizens abroad. Traditionally, both parties have supported overseas voting, which is how many military members cast their votes. But this year, members of Congress have asked local officials to “set these ballots aside” until the identity of each voter can be verified, claiming they are highly vulnerable to fraud.
Pennsylvania election officials are confident the suit won’t hold up given the timing, and the fact that state laws governing overseas ballots have been in place for over 40 years. However the real concern is what election litigation experts are calling “zombie lawsuits” — litigation that is unlikely to succeed now but could set the stage for future post-election challenges and provide Republicans with ample runway to falsely claim that mail-in ballots were somehow fraudulent.
A race to watch: Baldwin vs. Hovde
One of the closest Senate races to watch this cycle is in Wisconsin, where Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin takes on Republican businessman Eric Hovde.
Baldwin made history in 1998 as the first openly lesbian woman elected to Congress. Since then, she’s fought for LGBTQ rights, health care protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and to lower the prices of prescription drugs.
Hovde has never held political office, but as a successful businessman with Trump’s endorsement, he was easily able to win the state’s Republican primary.
The majority of polls put Baldwin in the lead, but the race is tightening. And thanks to a massive ad buy from the Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund, as well as a $2 million investment from Hovde, Republicans are on pace to outspend Democrats in Wisconsin every week until Election Day.
Tomorrow, Baldwin will be on the show to discuss her Senate race in Wisconsin. For now, here’s her weekend routine.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s weekend routine
What time do you wake up on the weekend?
On my very rare day off, I sleep until I wake up naturally. I make coffee, catch up on the news and read my emails. I usually have a carpentry and/or a sewing project going, so I spend a bit of time working on that before I start my day!
What’s the last book you read?
“Empire of Pain,”by Patrick Radden Keefe.
What show are you bingeing right now?
It’s campaign season so I don’t have time to binge-watch anything!
How do you take your coffee?
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