Key points
- Obama condemns Trump’s tariff policies and National Guard
- Mocks Trump’s focus on White House refurbishments
- Polls show Spanberger leading, Sherrill with narrow lead
New York: Former President Barack Obama campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey on Saturday, urging voters to reject what he termed the “lawlessness and recklessness” of President Donald Trump’s administration in next week’s elections.
Obama, a popular figure among Democrats, delivered a sharp critique of Trump’s leadership while rallying support for Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill.
Addressing Spanberger’s supporters at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Obama said, “Let’s face it, our country and our policy are in a pretty dark place right now,” adding that every day under the Trump administration offers “a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness,” reports Reuters.
He condemned Trump’s tariff policies and deployment of National Guard troops to US cities, and criticised Republican lawmakers for failing to challenge the president. Obama also expressed surprise at how quickly business leaders and institutions “bent the knee” to Trump.
Significant margin
In Newark, New Jersey, Obama continued his criticism at a rally for Sherrill, likening the Trump White House to “every day is Halloween, except it’s all tricks and no treats.” He sarcastically remarked on Trump’s focus on “critical issues” like refurbishing the White House and building a $300 million ballroom.
Polls show Spanberger leading her Republican opponent, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, by a significant margin. Sherrill holds a narrower lead over Republican Jack Ciatterelli in New Jersey, where recent races have been unexpectedly close. Although New Jersey has a 2-to-1 Democratic voter registration advantage, Ciatterelli narrowly lost the 2021 gubernatorial race by just three points.
