Obama Revives ‘Secret Weapon’ Against Trump (Video)

Barack Obama is bringing one of the most recognizable messages of his political career back to the campaign trail as Democrats make an increasingly aggressive push to wrest control of Congress from Republicans.

The former president, 65, has revived the theme of “hope” in a new digital campaign for the Democratic National Committee, urging Americans frustrated with the direction of the country to turn that dissatisfaction into votes in the November 3 midterm elections.

“I’ll be honest with you: I never imagined some of the stuff that’s been going on in our country lately,” Obama says in the direct-to-camera message.

But rather than dwelling on President Donald Trump by name, Obama pivots toward voter participation.

“I am energized by the millions of Americans who are taking a stand and demanding change, even when it’s hard,” he says. “That’s what hope is all about.”

Obama then urges voters to help Democrats prevail in what he describes as one of the most consequential elections in modern American politics.

“The most powerful office in this country has always been ‘citizen,’” Obama says. “And right now, every one of us can help turn hope into action.”

The language is an unmistakable callback to the “hope and change” message that propelled Obama’s historic 2008 presidential campaign. This time, however, Democrats are deploying it in a very different political environment, with Trump back in the White House and Republicans fighting to preserve extraordinarily narrow control of Congress.

The DNC is putting six figures behind the Obama digital campaign, according to CBS News, with the advertisements designed to boost turnout and grassroots fundraising during the final weeks before Election Day.

Obama is doing much more than appearing in videos.

He has helped Democrats raise more than $13.6 million since last year through roughly half a dozen fundraising events and direct-mail campaigns benefiting the DNC and other party committees. That includes more than $3.6 million raised at a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee event in Northern Virginia this week.

Behind closed doors, Obama has also expressed surprise at just how competitive Democrats have become in parts of the country that would normally favor Republicans.

“There are states right now in play that I would not have imagined being in play,” Obama told donors this week while discussing Democratic Senate opportunities.

That optimism is increasingly visible on the electoral map.

Democrats need a net gain of just four seats to retake the House, where Republicans currently hold the narrowest possible majority. Reuters reported this week that Democratic strategists have become confident enough to begin targeting Republican-held districts in places such as Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan and Virginia — including some districts Trump carried comfortably in 2024.

Independent political handicappers have also been moving a number of House races in Democrats’ direction.

Still, Democratic leaders are publicly warning supporters against assuming victory is guaranteed.

Polling has overstated Democratic strength in some recent elections, and turnout remains unpredictable. The Senate is particularly difficult: Democrats need a net gain of four seats while simultaneously protecting competitive seats of their own.

That uncertainty helps explain why Obama is being deployed so strategically.

He recently endorsed Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in Georgia and Senate nominee Troy Jackson in Maine. His gubernatorial endorsements include Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, David Crowley in Wisconsin and Deb Haaland in New Mexico.

Obama has also recorded nearly two dozen campaign advertisements for Democratic candidates around the country.

His return to the physical campaign trail is accelerating as well.

He previously appeared with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa and has backed Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek.

Later this month, Obama is scheduled to head to Detroit for an October 24 rally with Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson.

Michigan could become one of the defining battlegrounds of the election. El-Sayed is facing Republican Mike Rogers for an open Senate seat, while Benson is running against Republican Rep. John James for governor.

Obama’s Detroit appearance is scheduled for the first day of Michigan’s early in-person voting period, giving Democrats an opportunity to turn a high-profile rally into immediate votes.

The former president has also been openly discussing the stakes of Senate control, including the enormous influence senators have over federal judges and other presidential appointments.

Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans are mounting their own nationwide campaign push.

Trump has been traveling heavily on behalf of GOP candidates as Republicans confront voter anger over high prices, international conflicts and dissatisfaction with his presidency. Reuters reported that Republicans have even begun redirecting resources toward districts that previously appeared comfortably Republican.

Recent polling gives Democrats reason for optimism, but the size of any potential Democratic victory remains far from certain. One recent national generic-ballot poll put Democrats ahead by roughly four points, while other polling has shown a larger Democratic advantage.

Analysts interviewed by Reuters largely expect Democrats to be strongly positioned to capture the House, although several cautioned that a gain of roughly 15 to 20 seats remains more realistic than a massive landslide.

The Senate remains much harder to predict.

For Democrats, Obama offers something few other figures in the party can provide: instant national attention, a proven fundraising network and credibility with several parts of the Democratic coalition that candidates desperately need to turn out.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin said Democrats believe they have momentum but are refusing to become complacent.

“We’re not taking anything for granted,” Martin said, arguing that Democrats will continue focusing on affordability and lowering everyday costs while using Obama to motivate voters during the final stretch.

The White House responded much differently.

Spokesman Davis Ingle blasted Obama and defended Trump’s record, accusing the former president of being divisive and arguing voters elected Trump to reject the Obama era.

The increasingly personal rhetoric is another sign of how high the stakes have become.

Obama may no longer be on the ballot, but Democrats clearly believe his political influence still matters. With control of the House and Senate potentially hanging on a relatively small number of races, the party is now reaching for one of its most recognizable messengers — and one of his oldest campaign themes — in hopes that “hope” can once again translate into votes. cbsnews.com