WASHINGTON — Barack Obama For the Vice President, he began to be confused Kamala Harris. Bill Clinton is holding a series of campaign events for her in the war zone.
However, the Democratic superstar, many in the party, would like to see him stay out of the campaign so far to help Harris.
With just 20 days until the election, Michelle Obama has worked behind the scenes to boost turnout in key states, but she has yet to schedule an official speech for Harris after the Democratic National Convention. Two people familiar with the matter said he expressed new concerns about security in the wake of two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump.
Both Harris and Trump receive a letter an unprecedented level of security after the former president faced two apparent attempts on his life this summer. Events like more Secret Service agents and bulletproof glass are now commonplace on the campaign trail.
“After two assassination attempts against former President Trump, the staff of all the former presidents and first ladies realized a new reality, and so did the Secret Service,” a person familiar with the matter called them a “wake-up call.” everyone” must redouble their security efforts “in light of the new reality.”
His low profile follows a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, in which he urged members of his party not to be complacent about the November election and repeatedly told voters to “do something!”
Michelle Obama is expected to add Harris campaign events to her schedule as Election Day nears, with five people familiar with the plan saying nothing has been finalized at this point. He is expected to play a role in “closing arguments” for the Democratic campaign, three of the people said.
By the time voting closes on November 5, one source said, “he will have made his voice heard.”
Michelle Obama’s office and the Harris campaign declined to comment.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of our defense operations, protecting former President and Mrs. Obama is a top priority for the Secret Service,” USSS spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
Several Democratic strategists were eager for an all-out effort from the party’s biggest names.
Another former first lady — Hillary Clinton — is scheduled to start campaigning for Harris in two weeks. After capturing the top of the ticket, he collected several donations for Harris. Michelle Obama has not raised any funds for Harris during this time.
Michelle Obama being the most popular Democratic surrogate has a unique charm because she has never run for office. Recently in Reuters/Ipsos requesthe was the only person to win a majority among registered voters.
Obama has focused his 2024 political efforts on “When We All Vote,” a voter registration and engagement initiative he launched in 2018 that will seek to mobilize 5 million voters this cycle, the group said.
She views her role as a high-profile surrogate quite differently than her husband, according to two people familiar with the dynamic.
“People sometimes forget: he is not a politician,” said one of the people.
While some in both parties have speculated about his future presidential bid, Obama has been outspoken about his disdain for partisan politics. At the beginning of this year, his office flat reported he reiterated that he did not intend to run for the presidency and did not want to enter the political struggle again in this way.
A Trump supporter who stormed the Capitol on January 6 last year was arrested near the Obamas’ home in Washington, where two guns and 400 rounds of ammunition were found. he said time.
Former President Obama, who has benefited from his wife’s speeches during his campaigns, called him out on Thursday during an unscheduled appearance at the Harris campaign office in Oakland, Pennsylvania, to suggest that voters “may not be sufficiently aware of the threat of litigation.” ” in the November elections.
“These are not ordinary times, nor ordinary elections. You’re lucky Michelle isn’t here,” he said with a laugh. “He’s really serious about it.”
The former president began a series of appearances for Harris last week with two stops in Pennsylvania and has planned rallies in Tucson and Las Vegas this week, according to a Harris campaign official and an Obama spokesman. They said he would continue to run regularly on the Democratic ticket through the final push.
Former President Clinton toured rural Georgia on Sunday and Monday and will begin a bus tour of North Carolina later in the week. He is expected to travel throughout the battleground states to canvass voters for Harris before Election Day, according to two people familiar with his schedule.
There is a perception among some party insiders that Michelle Obama’s deployment may ultimately be the most effective, according to a person familiar with the dynamic.
“You have to pick the moment where you can move the needle the most,” this person said, “and that hasn’t happened yet.”
At the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama used the phrase “do something” at least six times in her speech, each to thunderous applause.
“If we see a mountain in front of us, we don’t expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top,” he said. “No. We lower our heads. We start work. In America, we are doing something.”
He then began a call and response with the audience
“If they are lying about him – and they will – we have to do something. If we see a bad survey – and we will – we have to put that phone down and do something. If we start to feel tired, if we start to feel that fear coming back, should we pick ourselves up, throw water in our face, and what?
“Do something!” the crowd shouted back.
“So consider this your official request,” he said. “Michelle Obama is asking you — no, I’m telling you all — to do something.”