Campaigning for Democrats in Pennsylvania on Saturday, former President Barack Obama did not mince words about what is at stake in Tuesday's midterm election contests: Abortion rights, Medicare and Social Security, and democracy itself.
"Somebody here mentioned we’re setting our clocks back tomorrow," Obama said Saturday at a rally in Pittsburgh for U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman. "On Tuesday, let’s make sure that our country doesn’t get set back 50 years."
He also had a stark warning for Democrats: "Sulking and moping is not an option," urging them to get out and vote.
It's no secret that Pennsylvania – the Keystone State – has emerged as a crucial battleground for both parties in this midterm election. A close race for an open U.S. Senate seat and a high-profile gubernatorial race in a state that Donald Trump won in 2016 and Joe Biden won in 2020.
While the state's attorney general Josh Shapiro has largely comfortably led Republican candidate Doug Mastriano in the polls for the governor's race, the U.S. Senate race between Fetterman, the state's lieutenant governor, and celebrity physician Mehmet Oz has tightened in recent weeks.
Both parties are hoping to win the open seat long held by retiring Sen. Pat Toomey in order to break the 50-50 logjam in the Senate, narrowly controlled by Democrats thanks to Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking vote.
With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that both parties brought the heavy hitters to Pennsylvania in the final weekend before the midterms draw to a close.
In Pittsburgh, former President Obama brought up Fetterman's stroke in May – Fetterman's health and fitness to serve has emerged as a key issue in the race and an attack point from Oz and Republican advocates.
Obama said that Fetterman's stroke "did not change who he is, it didn’t change what he cares about, it didn’t change his values, his heart, his fight."
“It doesn’t change who he will represent when he gets to the United States Senate," Obama added. "He’ll represent you.”
Fetterman is still recovering from a stroke he suffered in May. He jumbled words and struggled to complete sentences in his lone debate against Oz last month, although medical experts say he's recovering well from the health scare. The White House has worried privately for weeks that concerns about Fetterman's health might undermine his candidacy.
Obama made the case that the choice for Pennsylvanians between Fetterman and Oz should be an easy one, saying they should want a leader who will "work hard for you" and made the case that the lieutenant governor knows what it's like to overcome tough obstacles: "When you get knocked down, you know he’s going to be there to help you get back up."
Voters "deserve somebody," Obama added, "who’s actually from Pennsylvania," seemingly referencing Fetterman's line of attack on Oz about his residency. Fetterman has relentlessly attacked Oz over his opposition to abortion rights and castigated the former New Jersey resident as an ultrawealthy carpetbagger who will say or do anything to get elected. Oprah Winfrey, who elevated Oz on her TV show, endorsed Fetterman on Thursday.
The 44th president also took aim at Oz's character, citing questionable products that appeared on his television show: "It's easy to joke about Dr. Oz and all these quack remedies he's pushed on TV, but it matters. It says something about his character."
"If somebody is willing to peddle snake oil to make a buck, then he’s probably willing to sell snake oil to get elected,” Obama said. “You deserve better than somebody who’s just trying to make a quick buck."
Obama knocked Oz's recent statement at a debate with Fetterman that abortion should be between a woman, her doctor and "local political leaders" – "Really? A mayor gets to decide what you do with your body," Obama quipped – and warned that a Republican congressional majority could make a nationwide abortion ban a reality.
He also decried the heightened political climate in the United States, which officials have warned could lead to an increased risk of violence.
"This habit we have of demonizing political opponents, of saying crazy stuff, it creates a dangerous climate," Obama said, in reference to the recent attack on Paul Pelosi, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband. "When you have people who are in leadership positions, who promote or ignore over-the-top rhetoric, and then when there's an attack like this they make light of it, they joke about it, then more people are gonna get hurt."
"More than that, we violate the basic spirit of our democracy, the spirit of who we are as Americans," Obama added.
"By the way, it's not just politicians," seemingly in reference to recent antisemitic statements from rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and NBA star Kyrie Irving. "Whether it's out of malice or ignorance, we've seen recently big celebrities reposting vile antisemitic conspiracy theories online. You don't have to be a student of history to understand how dangerous that is and how unacceptable it is."
Later Saturday, after an event in Illinois, Biden joined his old boss, former President Barack Obama, for a rally in Pennsylvania for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro.
“I don’t just need you to vote,” Obama said. “I need you to gather up your friends and family and make sure that they are also voting. Make sure that they turn up. Because this election requires every single one of us to vote. It’s that important.”
Obama and Biden both warned of threats to democracy, with the 44th president warning that voters “can’t take it for granted” that generations of Americans have fought and died for democracy.
“We have to reaffirm the values that have long defined us,” Biden said.
At an event in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Trump expressed hopes for “an historic victory” from Republicans, which could help generate momentum to announce a long-rumored 2024 White House bid.
“This is the year we’re going to take back the House," Trump predicted. "We’re going to take back the Senate. And we’re going to take back America. We’re going to take it back. And in 2024, most importantly, we are going to take back our magnificent, oh-so beautiful White House.”
"Everybody, I promise you, in the very next, very, very, very short period of time, you’re going to be so happy," he added.
Multiple news outlets reported last week that Trump is mulling announcing a 2024 run in November, possibly the week after the midterms draw to a close. Trump’s office did not respond to an email from Spectrum News on Friday morning, but during a rally Thursday night in Sioux City, Iowa, Trump strongly teased that he’d soon announce his third run for president.
“In order to make our country successful and safe and glorious, I will very, very, very probably do it again,” he said. “Very, very, very, probably.
“Get ready,” Trump added. “That’s all I’m telling you. Very soon.”
The flurry of presidential attention on Pennsylvania underscores the stakes in 2022 and beyond for a presidential battleground state hosting pivotal elections for the U.S. Senate, House and governor on Tuesday. The Senate contest could well decide the Senate majority — and with it, Biden's agenda and judicial appointments for the next two years. The governor's race will determine the direction of state policy and control of the state's election infrastructure ahead of the 2024 presidential contest.
While Democrats feel good about the Pennsylvania governor's race, they enter the weekend decidedly on the defensive nationwide as voters sour on Biden's leadership amid surging inflation, crime concerns and widespread pessimism about the direction of the country.
History suggests that Democrats, as the party in power, will suffer significant losses on Tuesday.
Obama's midday appearance in Pittsburgh marks his first time campaigning in Pennsylvania this year, though the former president has been the Democratic Party's top surrogate in the final sprint to Election Day. Obama campaigned in recent days across Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona before hitting Pennsylvania.
As Biden's approval numbers sag, the current president has been a far less visible presence in battleground states, though Saturday marks his third appearance in three weeks in his home state of Pennsylvania as he works to buoy Fetterman’s prospects.
Oz, meanwhile, has worked to craft a moderate image in the general election and focused his attacks on Fetterman's progressive positions on criminal justice and drug decriminalization. Still, Oz has struggled to connect with some voters, including Republican voters who think he’s too close to Trump, too liberal or inauthentic.
Meanwhile, Trump will hold a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to bolster Oz and Mastriano on Saturday night.
Oz barely won the GOP nomination even after getting Trump’s endorsement. The former Republican president is betting that the celebrity TV doctor, who counts former first lady Melania Trump as a fan, will help Republicans win over suburban women in the crucial swing state.
The event is part of a final rally blitz that will also take Trump to Florida and Ohio, both critical presidential battleground states. He's hoping a strong GOP showing this week will generate momentum for the 2024 run that he's expected to launch in the days or weeks after polls close.
Trump has been increasingly explicit about his plans.
At a rally Thursday night in Iowa, traditionally home of the first contest on the presidential nominating calendar, Trump repeatedly referenced his 2024 White House ambitions.
After talking up his first two presidential runs, he told the crowd: “Now, in order to make our country successful and safe and glorious, I will very, very, very probably do it again, OK? Very, very, very probably. Very, very, very probably.”
“Get ready, that’s all I’m telling you. Very soon,” he said.
The potential dynamics of the race are already spilling out into public view.
On Sunday, Trump will headline a rally in Miami, Florida, to bolster Sen. Marco Rubio, a onetime rival. Not invited: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for reelection and is widely considered Trump’s most formidable challenger if both men decide to run for president.
Trump’s rally schedule underscores both his undeniable popularity with the Republican base and his polarity. His aides acknowledge that Trump is best deployed in races in which candidates are trying to turn out the base.
Republicans in Westmoreland County, where Trump will speak Saturday, hope that the former president will do just that on Saturday.
“The Trump bump is still a real phenomenon," said Bill Bretz, who chairs the Westmoreland County GOP. “I’m sure that’s what he’s hoping to bring in, to make sure everyone is aware of the significance of those races, give a boost to both men and really drive out that Election Day vote.”