WASHINGTON DC — Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, along with former first lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are preparing to lend their political star power to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign in the final stretch of the election, according to four people familiar with her plans.
All of the high-profile delegates felt “energized” by their role at last month’s Democratic National Convention and have offered to help Harris’ team in any way they can, these people said.
Barack Obama is expected to hold a fundraiser for Harris in Los Angeles next Friday and then hold major campaign events next month, while Michelle Obama will focus on encouraging voter registration and turnout for Harris, those familiar with Obama’s plans said.
In addition to traveling in support of Harris, the former president will also sign his name to fundraising materials and record candidate-specific ads and robocalls for Democrats running in down-ballot races, as he has done in past cycles, according to a person familiar with the effort.
“His strategy this fall will be determined by where he can influence Democrats and inspire voters, especially in states with key contests,” said Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to Obama.
Schultz said Obama will “use traditional and creative tactics” to reach voters digitally by working with content creators and influencers to attract young people to IWillVote.com.
Though she is likely to hold fewer campaign events than her husband, Michelle Obama is even more motivated to help this election cycle because she is Harris, not President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, people familiar with her plans said. Obama’s overall strategy and timeline are still being detailed, people familiar with his plans said, and Harris will follow the campaign’s direction on what’s needed in the campaign.
During her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Michelle Obama implored Democrats not only to support Harris this November but to “do something” to help her win.
The Obamas “are very excited about Harris’ candidacy, enjoyed their time at the convention and are eager to be helpful in any way they can during her campaign,” said a former senior Obama adviser.
The Obamas and Clintons would have played some role in the final stretch of Biden’s campaign had it continued. A person familiar with the planning said they can now help with different constituencies Harris needs to win in November.
Clinton’s possible agenda
For example, Bill Clinton will likely focus on more rural areas, with possible events in places like the Rust Belt and Georgia, two people familiar with his plans said. He is eager to get out on the campaign trail and was described by one person close to him as a “Dalmatian in a firehouse.”
Former President Clinton could also make a specific appeal to Latino voters, as he did better with that key demographic when he was in office than his successors, an additional source said. He is also likely to be asked to speak on economic issues, given his role as the “explainer-in-chief” on that topic in 2012, this person said, and his travels for Harris are likely to begin sometime in October.
For her part, Hillary Clinton is expected to focus on women and LGBTQ voters during her campaign events, two people familiar with her schedule said, with dates still being discussed. She is also likely to be a key messenger on reproductive freedom, which could be an effective way to reach suburban women, whom the campaign also sees as critical.
She plans to help with fundraising efforts, these sources said, between stops on her latest book tour, which begins next week. Hillary Clinton has at least one lunch with donors scheduled for next Friday, separate from Barack Obama’s event.
Both Obama and Clinton have been in frequent contact with Harris since she took over the top spot on the ticket, and Hillary Clinton offered debate strategy and insight ahead of the vice president’s clash with former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia this week.
For his part, Biden will continue to travel to battleground states to promote what the White House considers the main accomplishments of his tenure. The president will travel to Philadelphia on Monday in his official capacity, but is expected to continue to campaign for Harris wherever he goes and also hold more joint events with the vice president in the final stretch leading up to election day, according to officials in both offices.
Biden, in particular, could help shore up older white voters, who have not been the core of Harris’ coalition, these people said. First lady Jill Biden has also committed to campaign for Harris in the autumn, with a possible focus on education.
In addition to Biden, Obama and Clinton, Democratic governors such as Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Gavin Newsom of California will be key delegates over the next seven weeks, along with Senators Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, and Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., according to a source familiar with their plans.
Harris’ team also has a steady flow of celebrities supporting the vice president, and it’s expected to grow in the coming weeks, but the campaign is also working to involve digital delegates more directly than in past cycles. It hopes to take advantage of the massive followings of online content creators without having to plan in-person events for them, the source said.
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