Former President Barack Obama‘s reemergence among the Democratic Party for the 2022 midterm elections is too late to make much of a dent, some Democrats have argued.
The 2022 midterm elections are set to be held in less than a month, and Democrats are facing an uphill battle against the Republican Party. While the former president has attended four fundraisers in August and September, some Democrats argue he has not utilized his appeal enough in this year’s elections, according to the Hill.
“I think a lot of people have said, ‘Where’s Obama?’” one Democratic strategist stated. “He shouldn’t just be the closer. He’s still seen as the party’s rock star.”
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Democratic strategist Eddie Vale has argued that while Obama “is coming in late in the cycle,” the former president stumping late in the race should not be much of a surprise, as overexposure to voters would decrease the value of having him attend an event.
The former president’s team announced on Wednesday that he will be stopping in Nevada as part of his midterm tour, which also consists of stops in Atlanta, Detroit, and Milwaukee. The same day, Obama posted a video telling viewers that their fundamental rights are on the ballot, referencing the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade earlier this year.
“If we elect more Democrats to Congress, President Biden can codify Roe v. Wade and protect abortion rights,” Obama said in the video. “So don’t sit this election out.”
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Election Day is right around the corner, and I want to be clear about what’s at stake. Our fundamental rights are on the ballot – especially women’s reproductive rights.
So don’t sit this election out. Make a plan to vote right now at https://t.co/NKXRGMYABn. pic.twitter.com/6jLY5d29D1
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 19, 2022
Over the weekend, Obama warned Democrats not to campaign with a heavy focus on former President Donald Trump and instead to focus on issues important to voters. Democratic candidates in key battleground races should not risk getting swept up in controversies surrounding their GOP opponents or Trump himself, as that isn’t what is driving the majority of voters to the polls, the former president stated on Pod Save America, a podcast hosted by his former White House aides.
Obama’s lack of presence until recently comes as some Democrats fear that President Joe Biden could hurt the party’s candidates through association, as only 42% of voters say they approve of his job performance, compared to 53% who disapprove, according to polling averages analyzed by FiveThirtyEight.
