Barack Obama to campaign in Ohio, Michigan to shore up support for Democrats ahead of US midterms

Former US President Barack Obama is set to campaign for Democratic candidates in Ohio and Michigan as the party steps up efforts to regain control of Congress in the November midterm elections.Obama will campaign in Cleveland on October 24 alongside former senator Sherrod Brown, who is seeking to unseat Republican Senator Jon Husted in a closely watched race that could influence control of the Senate, the Associated Press reported.He will also appear with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton, who is challenging Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the race to succeed term-limited Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.Ohio has become a key battleground in the fight for control of the Senate, drawing visits from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Trump campaigned for Husted on Monday, focusing much of his message on immigration.Brown, who lost his Senate seat to Republican Bernie Moreno in 2024, has been brought back into the race by Democrats hoping to reclaim the seat. In a campaign video, Obama highlighted Brown's record on jobs and urged Ohio voters to support his candidacy.“This race is going to be close. It could determine which party controls the Senate and whether Ohioans can count on the people in Washington to be fighting for you,” Obama said in the video.Obama will also campaign in Detroit on October 24 for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The event will include other prominent Michigan Democrats, including gubernatorial nominee and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.The campaign appearances mark an expanded role for Obama in the midterm elections, with additional campaign stops and advertisements expected in the final weeks before voting.The Democratic Party is looking to make gains in both chambers of Congress, with several closely contested races likely to shape the balance of power in Washington.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.