Former President Barack Obama, in a long and impassioned speech on the final day of early voting in Wisconsin, made a plea to voters to back Vice President Kamala Harris even if they disagree with her on a particular policy issue or have lost trust in Democratic politicians.
Mr. Obama ticked through elements of the coalition that helped elect him president twice and offered reasons for each to vote for Ms. Harris over former President Donald J. Trump — a man Mr. Obama described as unfit for the White House and without a care for the American people.
“Whatever questions you may still have about Kamala’s position on this or that issue, I can tell you that, time and time again, not just in this campaign but throughout her career, she has conducted herself with grace and dignity; that she respects people of all races and faiths; that she doesn’t demonize those who don’t support her, or threaten those who disagree with her; and that as president she will care about and listen to all the people of these United States,” Mr. Obama said.
Then he made appeals to each group.
The laundry list for different constituencies, delivered to a crowd that the Harris campaign estimated at 5,100 people, served as a tour of the groups Democrats are concerned about in the final hours before Election Day.
Here is what Mr. Obama said to each:
For small-business owners: “Donald Trump’s history as a businessman is littered with so many scams and lawsuits that people in his hometown don’t even want to work with him.”
For union workers: Mr. Trump “has encouraged union busting and stiffed his own workers.”
For military service members and veterans who believe Republicans are stronger on national defense: “Some of this country’s most decorated soldiers and Marines, men who served under Donald Trump and have seen him up close, have said that he is scornful towards those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
For Black and Latino voters, he asked: How can you support someone who “was sued for not renting to folks who look like you, who can’t understand how an N.B.A. superstar could be both Greek and Black, who suggests any Mexican crossing the border is a criminal and a rapist, who spreads ridiculous fantasies that Haitians are eating people’s pets, and who just this past week arranged for one of his supporters to tell jokes about Black people eating watermelon and Puerto Rico being an island of garbage at Madison Square Garden? You think that’s someone who is looking out for you?”
(The mention of a Greek basketball star was a reference to Mr. Trump’s remark at a rally on Friday in Milwaukee that Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Milwaukee Bucks superstar, is not sufficiently Greek because he is Black.)
To Muslims and Jews angry about the war in Gaza: “Would you place your faith in someone who instituted a so-called Muslim ban, or sat down with Holocaust deniers, or said that there were ‘very fine people on both sides’ of a white supremacist rally?”
And to men “tired of cancel culture” or “uncomfortable with Kamala’s position on transgender issues” or who feel the country needs a strong leader who can “get stuff done”: “What evidence do we have that Donald Trump actually got stuff done? And since when exactly is Trump’s trademark behavior — the boasting and the bullying, the selfishness and cruelty — a sign of strength?”
Mr. Obama concluded his remarks by imploring the audience to use his arguments to convince their friends and neighbors skeptical of Ms. Harris in the final hours while votes are being cast.
“Let’s get to work,” he said.
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