In his first campaign appearance on behalf of Kamala Harris on Thursday, Obama spoke to a rally in Pennsylvania and an event targeted toward Black voters. He urged men, especially Black men, to vote for the vice president in the coming election.

At the event at the campaign office, Obama addressed the question that has long been prevalent: why many Black men appear to want to avoid voting for Harris. 

A recent NAACP poll showed that over a quarter of Black men under the age of 50 intended to vote for Donald Trump. Obama lamented that phenomenon and said he hasn’t witnessed the same sense of enthusiasm about voting like the time he was running for president. 

He said, “We haven’t seen the same level of energy and the same level of turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we did when I was running.” Obama especially pointed out that this lack of support appears stronger among Black men, saying, “You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses. I’ve got a problem with that.”

He said that maybe some Black men will get ruffled by a woman head of the nation. Obama said that women’s leadership is important only when things are getting bad. “When we get in trouble and the system isn’t working for us, they’re the ones out there marching and protesting,” he said, indicating how women have been forefront in any movement calling for justice.

That evening, he spoke to a large crowd at a rally in Pittsburgh, urging Pennsylvanians to vote for Harris, as well as other Democratic candidates, including Senator Bob Casey, who is up for re-election. “We need a president who cares about solving problems and making your life better, and that’s what Kamala Harris will do,” Obama said.

Pennsylvania is also an important state for both candidates, carrying 19 electoral votes. Recent polling there has Harris ahead, but the race against Trump is incredibly close. The Senate race itself matters in part because Casey is running against a deeply well-funded Republican foe in David McCormick. Casey said, “Outside billionaires are trying to defeat me. I’m going to beat David McCormick, and I’m going to beat those billionaires.”

Throughout the speech, Obama reminded people of why many in America are frustrated and feel that such costs are increasing and that people do not like this continued process of healing from COVID-19. In the meanwhile. he explained why people would want to see change, but also told them that change is not necessarily made by Trump. 

This election is going to be tight because there are a lot of Americans who are still struggling out there,” Obama said. Obama dismissed the argument that Trump would work to make good change; instead, he came out strong and said that real strength is about serving others, not bullying.

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