Former President Barack Obama coming to Arizona to campaign for Kamala Harris
Oct 11, 2024, 8:03 AM
Former President Barack Obama campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh on Oct. 10, 2024. He'll be in Arizona on Oct. 18. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – Former President Barack Obama is coming to Arizona next week to support Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic presidential campaign announced Friday.
Obama will speak in Tucson next Friday (Oct. 18) at a time and site to be announced.
The 44th U.S. president will encourage Arizonans to vote early for Democrats from the top of the ticket to down-ballot races.
Early voting started Wednesday in Arizona, one of seven battleground states in the presidential race. Obama’s visit will come less than three weeks before the Nov. 5 general election.
Meanwhile, as previously announced, first lady Jill Biden will campaign for the Democratic ticket in Yuma on Friday and Phoenix on Saturday.
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Barack Obama rips Donald Trump at Pennsylvania event
A day before Obama’s trip to State 48 was announced, he campaigned for Harris in another swing state, Pennsylvania, where he ripped Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a rally at the University of Pittsburgh, he painted Trump as out-of-touch and not the choice to lead the country to change, calling him a “bumbling” billionaire “who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.”
He said Harris is “a leader who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a chance” and declared, “Kamala is as prepared for the job as any nominee for president has ever been.”
Arizona in midst of a flurry of presidential campaign events
As a battleground state, Arizona has been a presidential campaign hotspot. In fact, all four presidential and vice presidential candidates have visited or plan to visit in a span of five days this week and weekend.
Walz and his Republican counterpart, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, each attended multiple events in Arizona on Wednesday.
Harris then held a rally in Chandler on Thursday evening, her third visit to the state since she moved to the top of the ticket.
Trump, meanwhile, will return for a rally in Prescott Valley on Sunday afternoon. Like Harris, it will be his third trip to Arizona in as many months.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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