As our Amie Parnes noted this week, Obama is ramping up surrogate efforts in the last few weeks of the election cycle, appearing in ads for Senate candidates like Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) and former Florida Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D). He has headlined fundraising events for key groups like the Democratic National Committee and is expected to partake in additional advertising.
What they’re saying: “President Obama believes the stakes of this election could not be more consequential and that is why he is doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris, Governor [Tim] Walz and Democrats across the country,” Eric Schultz, Obama’s senior adviser, told Amie. “His goals are to win the White House, keep the U.S. Senate and take back the House of Representatives.
“Now that voting has begun, our focus is on persuading and mobilizing voters, especially in states with key races,” Schultz said. “Many of these races are likely to go down to the wire and nothing should be taken for granted.”
Obama’s decision to campaign in Pennsylvania — home to “Scranton Joe” – underscores how Democrats are looking to shore up the “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Pennsylvania is home to a tight presidential race as well as a competitive Senate contest between Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Republican Dave McCormick.
Where the polls are at: An aggregate of Pennsylvania surveys compiled by Decision Desk HQ shows Harris narrowly edging out Trump at roughly 49 percent to 48 percent. The DDHQ aggregate shows Casey with a slightly larger lead against McCormick, at roughly 49 percent to 45 percent.
While Democrats see Obama as someone who can excite the base, they also believe he’ll prove critical with key voting blocs, too.
“Maybe the biggest benefit Obama brings is that he’s a great messenger to other men of color who’ve been courted by Trump’s false machismo,” Democratic strategist Christy Setzer told Amie. “There’s no one in the party who counteracts Trump’s fake toughness better.”
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