Obama, in Midwest, assails 'cruelty' and indecency from Trump and his allies in the midterm campaign

Barack Obama campaigned for Democrats in Ohio and Michigan on Saturday, using stops in both states to denounce what he called cruelty and a lack of decency from Donald Trump and fellow Republicans. With Election Day on Nov. 3 approaching, the former president, 65, is serving as the party's chief motivator in some of the nation's most bitter midterm races, according to PBS NewsHour.

In Ohio, he went after Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy over a commercial featuring the estranged birth mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton, Donna Arthur, who calls her daughter a liar and hints at mental health problems. Acton has openly discussed childhood abuse and homelessness. Trump and Vice President JD Vance defend the spot, while GOP figures in Ohio, among them Gov. Mike DeWine, want it pulled. Trump, speaking after voting in Florida, said a mother's view was the best reference there could be.

In Detroit, Obama defended Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who faces Republican Mike Rogers, rejecting attempts to cast him as a radical and to use his name or faith against him. He conceded El-Sayed had faulted him in the past. Democrats hope the event helps with Black voters, who some canvassers say are drifting toward Rogers.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →