Obama Campaigns in Ohio and Michigan, Criticizes Trump

Barack Obama rallied thousands at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium and campaigned in Michigan ahead of the November 3 midterms, urging voters to help Democrats regain control of Congress and hold the Trump administration accountable. In Ohio, he backed Senate candidate Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton; the races could affect Senate control and determine whether Democrats regain the governorship, which they have not held since 2011. In Michigan, he backed Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who faces Republican Mike Rogers in a closely contested race. Obama criticized Donald Trump over rising living costs, the war with Iran, alleged corruption and White House renovations, describing Trump’s second term as marked by “chaos and cruelty.” Obama also condemned Republican Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother; Acton said Ramaswamy was exploiting her childhood history of abuse and neglect, while Ramaswamy defended the ad. Trump responded by attacking Obama and El-Sayed and urging Michigan voters to support Rogers.