During a campaign rally in Wisconsin on a characteristic October day marked by drizzling rain and migratory geese in the sky, there’s a moment where Barack Obama’s demeanour strikes a thoughtful note. He comes across as just another American citizen, amidst several millions, expressing confusion about the direction the country’s political dialogue has veered towards.
He confesses to his audience that he doesn’t follow cable news, but admits his bewilderment at how the discourse has become so acrid. In Madison’s large, soulless arena that seems more like a concrete hollow, the only audible sound is that of the audience listening in ecru silence. Irrespective of the Democratic Party’s outcome in the election, Obama’s slew of speeches, embodying autumn, are likely to be pored over by generations of future historians.
There’s a sense that the former president is simultaneously engaging in two dialogues. One is clearly aimed at lending support to Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. But alongside this, there is a subtle subtext that reflects Obama’s intense dissatisfaction with how he believes Donald Trump has commandeered the achievements he accomplished in his two presidential terms.
On the occasion, Obama candidly says that he often encounters people who admit to recalling a time when the economy thrived during the early days of Trump’s presidency. To this he retorts, affirming it was the economy he fostered. He explains how he cleansed the mess left by the Republicans over his eight-year term, reinstating the auto industry. And when Obama passed on 75 months of continuous job growth to Trump, his successor just implemented a tax cut for those who weren’t reliant on it. He warned his audience not to romanticise Trump’s economy which was at its roots, Obama’s.
Obama’s sentiment underlines the tumultuous journey the United States has undergone over the previous eight years with him being just another passenger. For the majority of this past year, Obama has influenced American politics subtly, often spoken about but rarely seen. However, as the election phase concludes, he seems omnipresent. For many in the arena, the nostalgia is not for past times, but rather for the person addressing them. This week, Obama is seen accompanying vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz on a tour of the pivotal central states.
Expressing affection for this man, Obama addressed the Madison group. It’s clear he genuinely feels this way. Both are shaped by spirit of Midwestern, despite Obama’s particular nurturing as a young community mobiliser in Chicago, trying to figure out his role in the American narrative. He soon realised his destiny was to be the 44th President at an unprecedentedly young age. Now, he is a memorable speaker and a former global leader who can make suggestions but halt no actions. Meanwhile, Walz is as consummate a Midwest individual as a character from Sherwood Anderson’s works, being a Nebraskan native skilled with a wrench, firearm and beer. He and Obama share a love for sports and politics, as well as a belief in basic decency. This virtue was particularly evident in his debate with JD Vance.
“Someone suited to engage in public service,” Obama compliments.
“He’s served in the military, he’s educated, and he’s guided. An outdoorsman. An exemplary governor. It’s clear that his plaid shirts have seen some use.”
Although Walz didn’t wear a plaid shirt here, he delivered a compelling argument against the notion of Trump launching a second term.
“The current version of Donald Trump is riskier. He isn’t the 2016 Trump anymore. As Kamala highlights, he’s a very frivolous person. However, giving him another term presents severe consequences. He’s suggesting involving the military against those opposing him. I’m aware I’m a prime target. He won’t stop at me. He’s talking about each and every one of you!”
The ascension of Walz to the vice-presidential candidacy is entirely logical when considered within the context of the expansive plains and the guileless warmth associated with the Midwest. However, he is alert enough to acknowledge that from 11am, the car park was getting crowded since the attendees were eager to get a glimpse of Obama, be it to relive the unparalleled buoyancy of his 2008 campaign or to witness the current version of Obama: a middle-aged diplomat attempting to wield his phenomenal charisma to tilt the power balance in favour of his party. With the electoral race on a knife edge for the Democrats, everyone in attendance experiences a somewhat poignant excitement at the sight of Obama exhibiting his well-known charm and mesmerising command of the stage.
# Our first childhood President,” Is a sentiment shared by Eliza Bankier, hailing from Chicago, who has attended the gathering with three mates, all of whom are in their final years at the University of Wisconsin. They each were five years old when Obama secured the presidency and they reminisce, all in unison, about the moment.
# I precisely recall my location.”
# “I was viewing the event on TV with my mum.”
Although they have casted their votes in the gubernatorial and Wisconsin court supreme elections, it would be their debut participation in the Presidential elections. Throughout the rally they were engrossed in each speaker, from congressman Mark Pocan to senator Tammy Baldwin to Walz. But when Obama stepped in, they rejoiced and their hands shot up in the air. The same did thousands of others. For the multitude, if not all, of the Democrats in the auditorium, laying their eyes on Obama was almost a divine experience.
# The way he orates just strikes a chord with the people and that’s what I greatly admire about him.” says Lia Kerrigan from Baltimore.
# It’s possible for us to immerse ourselves in circles that exclaim, ‘Politics doesn’t hog my attention or they possess a dissenting view or are going to side with Trump and people just maintain their silence and fail to respond. But – and we were just discussing this recently – we ought to urge our comrades: proceed and vote. We have to defend our beliefs and even our rights. The act of voting for Trump… It’s not simply a Democrat versus Republican situation now. It’s a matter of morals. It pertains to security. It involves the safety of our parents and friends. And this discourse truly excited me,’ she breaks into giggles.
# I feel entrusted with a mission now.”
While the throngs of people filed steadily towards the car park, we held a brief discussion on the concourse. The exit to the city promised a slow, laborious journey. Zola Osman, a young woman amid a climate of contested reproductive rights, voiced her sentiments.
“In this era when women’s reproductive rights are under siege, our voice as young females is all the more significant. Though we hail from various states, we cast our votes here in Wisconsin, and our desire for a more pronounced voice compels us to vote now more than ever,” she stated.
Recent reports, which paint a grim picture for Democrats over the last day, suggest that insiders are fearful that Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania’s ‘Blue Wall’ might fail to stand firm in the upcoming November election. As a consequence, Harris’s route to the presidency may be suspect. Obama, on the other hand, offered a speech shifting from pointed critiques of Trump to an endorsement of America’s shared integrity. This was a message Bankier received with enthusiasm.
“With regards to Obama and his time in office, I found the level of respect present during that era truly remarkable, as well as the degree of gravity both parties assumed in political matters,” she explained. “As a Democrat, I uphold and subscribe to the values of my party. Yet, I trust that it is crucial that the president, such as Trump is, should be competent and reflective as a leader, regardless of the day’s events. This, Obama also emphasizes – the necessity for someone proficient and considerate to take the reins. He serves to remind us of the importance of respect in politics.”
His return to Madison on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon might be seen as nostalgic. Obama, alongside Walz, was scheduled to continue onto Detroit later that evening for a significant rally. However, his subdued appearance and the appeal he conveyed to the younger generation had its distinct resonance.
Grace Gilman, a New Yorker, commented, “Obama being here in Wisconsin, a vital swing state, is noteworthy. His discourse embraces a wide audience. It extends beyond Democrats to independents and Republicans not aligned with Trump’s ideals. Herein lies his importance. His presence and speeches offer representation for a multitude.”
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