Unwaveringly popular and seen as "cool," Barack and Michelle Obama are throwing not just their political weight but also their star power behind Kamala Harris in the final stretch of the US election, reports BSS.
With just 10 days to go before the November 5 vote, Michelle Obama appeared before a rapturous Harris rally Saturday in Kalamazoo, Michigan, walking on stage to a deafening standing ovation.
Energizing the crowd, she had the audience chanting "Do something!" a refrain from her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, when she urged Harris's voters to take action.
Harris has rolled out a variety of A-list admirers to make her case in the campaign's final days.
But for Josette Lantis, who spoke to AFP ahead of the Kalamazoo rally, it's the "nostalgia" for the Obamas that makes them particularly powerful advocates.
"I like their vibe. I like to hear them talk, you know, they just set people straight," the 48-year-old said.
"When they were in office, they didn't have any scandals, the country wasn't as divided, and they were a great family," she added.
The Kalamazoo rally marked the second major campaign event featuring Michelle Obama, while Barack Obama has already made several high-profile appearances.
Harris's strong lineup of star power has included Beyonce at a rally Friday, and appearances by rapper Eminem, singer Lizzo and R&B star Usher in recent days.
As for the Obamas, "it brings great credibility that they are both willing to take their time to do this," Craig McDonald, who attended the rally, told AFP.
Harris's Republican opponent, Donald Trump, the oldest major presidential nominee in US history and the first to be running with a criminal record, has campaigned on a dark vision of a declining America.
In Kalamazoo, Michelle Obama galvanized the audience, launching an impassioned appeal for the defense of women's rights and reproductive freedom, critical Harris campaign planks.
"To anyone out there thinking about sitting out this election or voting for Donald Trump or a third party candidate in protest because you're fed up, let me warn you, your rage does not exist in a vacuum," Obama said.
"If we don't get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage."
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
