Bringing the cool factor to an otherwise well-orchestrated election campaign, is Obama the last hope for Kamala Harris?
Barack Obama is on a mission to boost Vice President Kamala Harris’s appeal, pulling out all the stops with lively rallies, candid podcasts, and even rapping Eminem lyrics.
The Harris campaign is banking on Obama’s star power to reignite excitement, much like his successful runs in 2008 and 2012, while avoiding the pitfalls that plagued Hillary Clinton in 2016.
With polls showing Harris neck-and-neck in a tight race against former President Donald Trump, Democratic nerves are fraying.
Obama has been focusing his efforts on courting Black and Hispanic men, a key part of his winning coalition that Harris is struggling to secure.
Star power
The former president is set to headline a joint rally with Harris in Atlanta on Thursday, where rock legend Bruce Springsteen will also take the stage.
“Kamala Harris is ready for the job,” Obama assured supporters in Detroit, adding a jab at Trump’s recent photo-op: “She worked at McDonald’s in college to pay her bills, not just to pose when it was closed.”
Since replacing President Biden on the ticket, Harris has leaned on Obama for guidance and has brought on his 2008 campaign manager, David Plouffe, as an adviser.
The political landscape may be more divided now than when Obama first ran, but his influence could be crucial to energising the base and countering Trump’s dominance over the GOP.
As the Harris campaign takes inspiration from Obama’s playbook, the question is whether it’s enough to secure victory this time around.
