Bad news for Trump? Kamala Harris to get Obama boost in last 27 days of campaign

Former President Barack Obama , a highly regarded figure in the Democratic Party , is set to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris in key battleground states as Election Day nears, beginning with an event in Pittsburgh next Thursday.
In the remaining 27 days before the election, Obama will visit several critical states across the nation.

As the first Black president, Obama played a key role during the second night of the Democratic convention in August, symbolically passing the torch to Harris, whose parents are Jamaican and Indian immigrants, portraying her as the next leader of his political legacy. He framed her candidacy as a continuation of his own.

In his address, Obama highlighted Harris’s dedication to prioritising the needs of the American people rather than serving personal or political interests. He noted that, as president, she would not solely cater to her supporters or seek to punish her opponents, but instead strive for the welfare of all Americans.

Obama is now lending his support in a final push to secure victory for the vice president, starting in Pennsylvania, a pivotal battleground state. During his convention speech, he cautioned that Harris's triumph was not assured, urging Democrats to aim for an overwhelming victory against former President Donald Trump .

He reminded the audience in August that the responsibility of safeguarding America’s future lies with everyone, and it would be a difficult journey. Since President Biden stepped aside this summer, Harris has taken charge of the Democratic presidential campaign , enlisting several of Obama’s former advisers, including David Plouffe, who managed Obama's first presidential campaign.

Obama-Harris relationship

Barack Obama and Kamala Harris have shared a long-standing political alliance spanning two decades. Their connection, which began in 2004, has grown into a relationship of mutual support. Harris was an early supporter of Obama's presidential bid, and he has been a strong advocate for Harris's rise to national prominence.
They first crossed paths at a California fundraiser in 2004, when Obama was running for the US Senate and Harris was an emerging political figure in California. As a district attorney, Harris went on to volunteer for Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, playing a pivotal role in helping him secure victory in California.

In return, Obama endorsed her during her 2010 run for attorney general of California, referring to her as a "dear, dear friend" at a Los Angeles rally, a move that contributed to her narrow win. Their relationship deepened as Harris became a national figure, and Obama granted her a prominent speaking role at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Despite a minor controversy in 2013, when Obama referred to Harris as "the best-looking attorney general" at a fundraiser, he quickly apologised, and their friendship remained intact. In 2016, as his second term drew to a close, Obama endorsed Harris in her successful bid for the US Senate.
Although Harris’s presidential campaign in 2020 did not succeed, Obama threw his full support behind her when Joe Biden selected her as his running mate, praising Biden’s decision and staying in close contact with Harris to offer guidance. Since then, their relationship has grown stronger, with Obama serving as a trusted advisor, providing counsel to Harris and her team as she campaigns for the presidency in 2024. Many of Obama’s former aides are now key members of Harris’s campaign, further reflecting their close personal and political partnership.
As Harris aims for the presidency, Obama remains a vital ally, offering strategic support, publicly endorsing her, and working closely with her campaign. Their relationship is rooted in years of collaboration, shared principles, and mutual respect.

What the polls say

Harris holds a narrow lead over Trump, and a recent poll indicates that a growing number of Republicans may vote for the Democrats next month.
Following this week’s vice-presidential debate, viewers were not particularly impressed by either candidate's performance, though JD Vance outperformed expectations, edging ahead of Tim Walz.

Only 1% of voters said the debate had influenced their decision on how to vote. The question remains: how will Harris and Trump fare in November?
According to the latest average of national polls by FiveThirtyEight, Harris holds a 2.8-point lead over Trump. She has consistently maintained a slight edge in national polls for several weeks.

A monthly poll from Emerson College places Harris 2 points ahead of Trump, with 50% compared to Trump's 48%. This national survey of 1,000 voters, conducted between 29 September and 1 October, remains largely unchanged from the same poll conducted in early September.

The poll shows that Trump is leading among non-partisan independent voters by a significant 13-point margin. However, other polls this week have Harris either leading or neck-and-neck with Trump in this group, underscoring the unpredictable nature of independent voters, whose preferences tend to vary greatly by region.

Moreover, the Emerson College poll suggests that 1 in 10 Republicans may vote for Harris in November. Although this subsample might carry a higher margin of error, it’s not far-fetched to believe that a portion of Republican voters could back Harris, especially given that more than 100 Republican officials have already endorsed her campaign while denouncing Trump.
The recent vice-presidential debate between Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz surprised many, as betting markets and pre-debate polls had predicted Walz would emerge as the clear winner. However, snap polls after the debate showed that viewers were split, with Vance slightly ahead.