Obama, Biden Hold Joint Rally at The Liacouras Center for Upcoming Midterm Elections
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Contributors: Sophia Levine, Alana Beltran, Oliver Sabo
Photo: Oliver Sabo
President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama came together at the Liacouras Center to rally Democrats to vote in the upcoming midterm elections for Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
The line into the venue spanned five blocks, as eager attendees waited to see two of three former presidents in Pennsylvania on Saturday, just three days from Election Day. Former President Donald Trump could be found on the other side of the state in Latrobe, campaigning for Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Mehmet Oz and Governor-hopeful Doug Mastriano.
Biden and Obama’s visit to North Philadelphia on Saturday marked the first joint campaign appearance since Biden took office. For Obama, it marked another stop on a fierce campaign in key battleground states like Wisconsin, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Also making appearances at the Liacouras Center were Gov. Tom Wolf, Sen. Bob Casey and Reps. Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans. State Rep. Austin Davis, Shapiro’s running mate and nominee for Lieutenant Governor, also made a speech.
Obama began his Saturday at the University of Pittsburgh, urging voters to choose John Fetterman as their next United States Senator. Biden has also focused his campaign on his home-state in recent weeks, visiting the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Oct. 28.
The two presidents took the stage in the final act of the night, along with Fetterman and Shapiro, after almost 30 minutes of cheering and dancing from the attendees. All four came out together and greeted the crowd, before each launched into their own lengthy speech emphasizing the importance of voting in Tuesday’s election.
“I thought it was really cool, the energy of the crowd and the dance party. Obama smiled and waved at me, and my heart literally skipped a beat. And I loved his little dance at the end,” said Grace O’Neil, a freshman Media Studies and Productions major.
President Biden discussed the accomplishments of Democrats while he has been in office, including the Inflation Reduction Act, American Rescue Plan, PACT Act and a gun safety bill. He also focused on cutting the federal deficit. Biden voiced his concern about Republican’s taking back power in the midterms.
“They want to get rid of everything we just did,” Biden said. “The power of America is in your hands. I’ve never been more optimistic of America’s future.”
Next up was Shapiro, who began by criticizing his opponent Doug Mastriano for his hypocrisy regarding his idea of freedom, referencing his stances on abortion, same-sex marriage, books in school libraries, and voting in future elections. He emphasized his commitment to funding public education, keeping streets safe, investing in communities, and growing jobs for non-college-educated workers.
“Real freedom is on the ballot,” Shapiro said, adding later that he “worries we have brought our children into a world with fewer opportunities.”
Recent polls show that Shapiro holds nearly a 10-point lead over Mastriano. Shapiro’s campaign raised $44 million, breaking Pennsylvania’s campaign finance record. He has also gained endorsements from Republicans and organizations that have typically backed Republican candidates.
In the Senate race, polls have tightened to an essential toss-up, a potential result of Fetterman’s performance in the first and only debate have closed what was previously a Democratic advantage.
Fetterman, making his second visit to Temple’s campus in the span of a week, said he wanted to be the voice for Pennsylvanians who have been knocked down but got up and fought back. Fetterman, along with the rest of the speakers, promised to protect abortion. He also doubled down on the importance of codifying Roe v. Wade.
The main issues were hit hard, as all four speakers highlighted what was on the ballot this week, including LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, and Medicare. Election integrity was another theme of the night. Both presidents warned about Mastriano, who has questioned the 2020 election results. If elected governor, they explained, he can overturn future election results through the Secretary of State.
“Pennsylvania, you’ve got a choice between politicians who seem willing to say anything and do anything to get power, and people who see and care about you and share your values,” said Obama. “You cannot let someone so disconnected run your state.”
Obama closed out the night, focusing his speech on voter turnout, especially among young people. The former president urged college students to vote, highlighting that youth turnout in the midterms is lower than in presidential election years, and younger voters can help Democrats win. He ended his speech saying, “midterm elections matter.”
“People take the midterms for granted and focus on the presidency,” Obama said. “If you vote, we will keep this country moving forward.”
Molly MacIsaac, a freshman Music Therapy major, was skeptical about voting at first but changed her mind after the rally.
“I was never into politics, but I knew Obama was speaking so I decided it would not hurt to go. I became a lot more informed about what was going to be on the ballot for Election Day, said MacIsaac. “Obama talking about how important midterm elections are in this country really made me look at the midterms in a different way, especially since this is my first year voting.”
In-person voting begins on Nov. 8 at 7 a.m. in Pennsylvania and will run until 8 p.m. Anyone who is in line at a polling location by 8 p.m. will have the opportunity to cast a ballot.
