Former President Barack Obama is hitting the campaign trail this weekend to energize his party ahead of an off-year election. His presence, as the leading figure in the Democratic Party, aims to encourage voter turnout, though there are doubts about how effective he might be in swaying voters at this stage.
“This 2025 off-year election isn’t like a regular election year. It’s less about persuasion and more about getting people to show up,” noted Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist who worked on Bernie Sanders’ campaign. “Bringing Obama in doesn’t hurt; he can help motivate the base, which still very much supports him.”
On Saturday, Obama will join Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who’s in the running for governor of New Jersey. He also intends to endorse Virginia’s gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, likely providing both candidates a much-needed final push.
If Sherrill and Spanberger succeed, it would be a significant victory for Democrats still recovering from last year’s tough election, where they lost not just the White House, but also control of Congress.
Even though he’s no longer in power, Obama recognizes the importance of state governors for the Democratic Party and remains a respected figure among Democrats.
“Governor races tend to be overlooked, but this time they could really influence the state of democracy,” remarked strategist Eddie Baer.
A Gallup poll earlier this year showed that Obama remains the most popular former president, with an approval rating of 59%.
Baer added that while Obama might be graying a bit, he still has a strong presence. “He’s a fantastic campaigner, known for delivering powerful speeches, and he’s effective in mobilizing key voters during ‘get out the vote’ initiatives.”
Since leaving office nearly ten years ago, Obama has generally kept a low profile in politics. Still, he plans to become more active as the election approaches to help Democratic efforts.
This year, aside from promoting candidates, he has been urging California voters to back Proposition 50, which could redraw congressional districts and potentially fill up to five extra seats for Democrats in the House.
“Californians, the rest of the country is counting on you,” Obama said in a campaign ad, emphasizing that “democracy is on the ballot.”
Increasingly, he has expressed criticism of President Trump and the administration’s actions that undermine democratic norms.
“It’s undeniable that many norms and expectations we took for granted have been intentionally undermined,” Obama commented on Marc Maron’s podcast.
Supporters believe he fully grasps the stakes in next week’s election, which explains his heightened rhetoric lately.
Some allies say he’s becoming more concerned with the current administration’s direction and doubts the policies will suffice for the next few years.
“He’s watching closely and is upset about it,” remarked one of Obama’s supporters.
However, while Democrats acknowledge that few can rally votes like Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, they also recognize limits: “The farther removed we are from his presidency, the less powerful his influence becomes,” stated one strategist. “We witnessed this with President Clinton, and it’s evident with Obama too.”
The strategist pointed out that during the 2024 election cycle, his support for various candidates, including former Vice President Harris, had little impact.
“His speeches at conventions and rallies sound pretty much the same. In the end, voters are more focused on the candidates rather than the surrogates,” they said.
Rocha echoed this viewpoint, noting that in today’s media landscape, there’s diminishing support and influence for last-minute campaign rallies.
