The crowd outside Cheyenne High School stretched as far as the eye could see, with people eager to hear former President Barack Obama speak on Saturday. “I think he will say exactly what we need to hear,” said one attendee, underscoring the significance of Obama’s visit to this battleground state, where polls show a tight race between the Harris-Walz and Trump-Vance tickets. Key concerns for voters include the economy, prescription drug prices, and Social Security. “Gas prices, groceries—it’s hard for families to get by right now,” another voter expressed. Another attendee voiced relief over reduced insulin costs: “She lowered my insulin costs, and I no longer have to pay the high prices.”
Many are also seeking a change in political rhetoric. “I’m more concerned with integrity and honor, and I believe we need to return to that,” one voter commented. Obama has faced some criticism for recent comments directed at Black men, citing their perceived lack of support for the vice president.
“He wasn’t addressing every Black man; he was talking to those who needed to hear it, and the ones complaining should hear it again,” one supporter defended Obama.
Taking the stage to a round of applause just before 8 p.m., Obama highlighted the stark contrasts between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Addressing claims that the economy was better under Trump, Obama stated, “That was MY economy. I spent 8 years cleaning up the mess left by the Republicans.”
Early voting kicked off in Nevada that day, and many polling locations around the valley were packed with eager voters. Inside a high school gym, just 10 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, Obama urged any undecided or hesitant voters to make their voices heard. “Sometimes people say it won’t make a difference whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins,” Obama told the crowd. “To them, I say: Do not sit back and hope for the best. Get off your couch and vote.”
The rally in North Las Vegas was Obama’s second stop on a busy tour of battleground states. As one of the most popular Democrats, the Harris campaign has increasingly relied on Obama to boost enthusiasm, particularly in what is shaping up to be a historically close election. In his 40-minute speech, Obama emphasized that elections have a real impact on people’s lives, either making things better or worse. Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, he criticized Trump for mishandling the crisis and causing avoidable deaths. “People’s loved ones—grandmothers, fathers, mothers—would still be alive today if Trump had just followed the plan we gave him,” Obama said.
He acknowledged that no president could fix every problem overnight but stressed that Harris would be a leader who “cares about you, who listens to regular people, and who listens to experts.”
Obama’s role has also included appealing to young men of color, some of whom have been more receptive to Trump’s message. In Pittsburgh, Obama bluntly addressed men hesitant to vote for a woman, calling it “speaking some truths.” In North Las Vegas, he criticized the idea that Trump’s bullying behavior is a show of strength, calling it a distorted sense of masculinity.
Obama also directly took on Trump, mocking his erratic behavior and mental fitness, while drawing attention to the long-standing animosity between the two, starting with Trump’s questioning of Obama’s birthplace.
“When it comes to health care, Trump’s only answer is to end the Affordable Care Act,” Obama said. “He doesn’t even understand how it works—he just knows I did it.” Even as he mocked Trump’s antics, Obama called for a return to values and character, pointing to Trump’s vulgar comments earlier that day in Pennsylvania, where he had referred to Harris as “a terrible vice president.”
The crowd cheered Obama’s criticism of Trump, while some attendees welcomed his tough love for those who might not be comfortable with a woman president. “I like how blunt he is,” said Anita Freeman, a local high school teacher. She hasn’t decided who to vote for yet, but she’s leaning toward Harris, appreciating Obama’s call-out of sexism. “There are still people who hold onto outdated beliefs that women shouldn’t have power,” said Freeman, who broke barriers herself as the first female firefighter in her New Jersey hometown in the 1980s.
Michael Dakan, who came from Los Angeles to canvas for Democrats, noticed Obama’s more unfiltered approach in recent weeks. “He’s still presidential, still Obama, and he gives you a sense of calm,” said Dakan, wearing a “Make America Grateful Again” shirt. “He has a certain grace.”
With the Nevada race among the tightest in the country, Obama’s message of civility and respect hit home with voters who fondly remembered more polite political times. As he recalled his 2008 opponent, the late Senator John McCain, Obama remarked, “He understood that some values transcend party lines.” He also paid tribute to late Nevada Senator Harry Reid, emphasizing that politics shouldn’t just be a battle between good and evil.
Quick hghlights from Former President Barack Obama:
