John AdoyiFormer United States President Barack Obama on Thursday, made a passionate appeal to Black men in the swing state of Pennsylvania, urging them to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election, now less than a month away.
Obama, who spoke at a Pittsburgh Democratic Party campaign field office, emphasised the high stakes of the race, with polls showing a neck-on-neck contest between Harris and former President Donald Trump of the Republican Party.
Addressing reports of low enthusiasm for Harris among Black voters, particularly men, Obama said he wanted to “speak some truths.” He noted a growing concern that some Black men were considering sitting out the election, citing various reasons. “You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses. I’ve got a problem with that,” he said.
Obama suggested that some reluctance may stem from discomfort with the idea of a female president. “Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and reasons for that,” he stated. Praising women’s contributions, he remarked, “Women in our lives have been getting our backs this entire time.”
He pointed out that women have consistently stood up for their communities. “When we get in trouble and the system isn’t working for us, they’re the ones out there marching and protesting,” Obama said, highlighting the crucial role women have played in the fight for justice and equality.
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Obama, the first Black American president elected in 2008, also took aim at Trump’s divisive rhetoric. He criticized the idea that putting others down, particularly women, is a sign of strength. “You’re thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you, because you think that’s a sign of strength, because that’s what being a man is? Putting women down? That’s not acceptable,” he stated.
Obama stressed that true strength lies in standing up for the vulnerable, adding, “Real strength is about helping people who need it and standing up for those who can’t always stand up for themselves. That is what we should want for our daughters and for our sons, and that is what I want to see in the president of the United States.”
Obama’s visit is part of a larger Democratic push to secure key swing states ahead of the election. The Harris campaign has ramped up its efforts in these states, which are crucial for securing the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Her running mate, Tim Walz, is set to campaign in Wisconsin, while former President Bill Clinton will tour the southern states of Georgia and North Carolina. Senator Bernie Sanders will focus on Michigan, where the large number of electoral votes could determine the outcome.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, both Harris and Trump are locked in tight races in swing states, where no clear frontrunner has emerged, making each vote all the more critical.
