ATLANTA (Dagbladet): On Friday there were long lines at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta. Thousands of people showed up to see Obama.
The atmosphere in the room was electric. Obama was greeted with unbridled cheers and still appears as the superstar of the Democrats nearly six years after leaving the White House.
– It’s good to be back. I missed you too, says Obama with a smile.
This is in stark contrast to the incumbent Democratic president, Joe Biden, who is unpopular in the polls. Democrats also fear that inflation and bad economic times will give Republicans a big head start in the elections.
This is the first event of the former president’s election campaign before this year’s by-election on November 8. That he comes to Georgia is not accidental.
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– Important choice
– Obama’s arrival demonstrates how important elections are in Georgia, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tells Dagbladet as he approaches the arena.
The southern state of Georgia found itself at the center of the US midterm elections. Obama took the stage to support incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, who is fighting a tough race against controversial former NFL star Herschel Walker. If Warnock loses, he could overturn control of the Senate in favor of the Republicans.
In the speech, Obama himself talked about how the norms in American politics are disappearing.
– I want to take a moment to pray for my friend, Paul Pelosi, who was attacked, says Obama.
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Paul Pelosi is the husband of the Speaker of Congress, Nancy Pelosi. On Friday he was attacked by an intruder at the couple’s home in San Francisco. The assailant (42), who has now been arrested, was probably looking for Nancy Pelosi, who is one of the most powerful democratic politicians in the United States.
Obama also attacks Herschel Walker, Donald Trump and the Republicans.
– To me, he (Walker journ.anm.) Looks like a celebrity who wants to be a politician. And we have seen how he goes.
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He also believes that most Republicans only care about two things.
– Take the liberals and get Donald Trump’s approval, Obama sums up.
He believes this means that they do not have the best interests of citizens in mind when making decisions.
Now Obama hopes to get voters to go to the polls, especially in fluctuating states like Georgia.
– Special space
– Georgia played a decisive role in the previous round and can play the same role now, two years later. The goal is to get people to vote and mobilize voters given everything at stake in this year’s elections, says Obama adviser Eric Schultz. NBC News.
– Is broken
– Today Obama holds a special place in politics. Obviously he is highly regarded by the Democrats. But he is also highly regarded by independent voters, explains David Axelrod AP.
He has been Obama’s campaign strategist since he was in the Illinois state assembly.
– Very worried
Additionally, the election involves the governorship in a fluctuating state, which could be decisive in the 2024 presidential election. Here, Democratic government candidate, Stacy Abrams, is behind incumbent Republican governor Brian Kemp in the polls.
– I am very worried about the elections. We need to make sure Abrams is elected, Lillian Patel tells Dagbladet as she waits to enter.
He worked as a teacher for 30 years. For Patel, education and stricter gun laws are the most important issues.
– I have been fighting for children’s rights for 30 years because we still have too many children and young people dying on our streets, says Patel.
More stop to the election campaign
He is also among the many who are still very enthusiastic about Obama.
– I went all the way to Washington DC to see it too, says Patel.
– Obama can get people to vote. It’s absolutely crucial, Benjamin says as he waits to see Obama for the first time.
He points to the right to abortion and the climate as the most important issues.
After his appearance in Georgia, Obama continues to campaign. He is scheduled to go to Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Pennsylvania. In all these states there are equal and decisive elections.