The former president appeared alongside Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester at a Washington event aimed at helping Democrats flip the upper chamber.
Former President Barack Obama headlined a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraiser in Washington on Wednesday night to discuss the stakes of the upcoming midterm election. The event featured an onstage conversation between Obama and Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, the DSCC vice chair, about the party’s push to flip the Senate.
Blunt Rochester told CBS News that Obama provides a voice of realism and practical optimism while laying the foundation for the vote’s importance. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, meaning Democrats must pick up four seats to win control. According to CBS News’ battleground tracker, races in Ohio and Texas have shifted toward Democrats and are now considered toss-ups.
The fight for the Senate
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told CBS News last month that voters are tired of Donald Trump and the Republican Senate, saying that “has put us on the edge of victory.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, told reporters before the chamber went on recess that Republicans still have a path to keep control by pointing to their legislative accomplishments.
Both parties are also contesting Michigan, where Sen. Gary Peters is retiring. An exclusive CBS Detroit poll conducted by Mitchell Research and Communications shows Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed holding a narrow lead over Republican challenger and former Rep. Mike Rogers. Obama plans to campaign in Michigan with El-Sayed and other candidates later this month, following a strategy focused on areas where he can influence persuadable voters.
Campaign ads and tech policy
Obama has taped two dozen campaign commercials for Senate and gubernatorial contenders across the country. Last month, he joined House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee event, where he pressed party leaders to address the economic impacts and safety risks of artificial intelligence, including potential job loss.
Jeffries told CBS News that he remains in touch with Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris, predicting House Democrats will win back the majority through an effort that will keep both figures active through Election Day.
