The Obamas return to their hometown to get Democrats fired up for Harris
President Barack Obama returned to Chicago to play the role of elder statesman to fire up Democrats for Kamala Harris.
CHICAGO — He once forged his political career here, but on Tuesday, President Barack Obama returned to his hometown to play the role of elder statesman.
“It’s good to be home!” Obama opened to an almost deafening reception at the United Center. “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling fired up!”
The nostalgic reference to Obama’s well-known chant “Fired up! Ready to go!” brought another roar.
As the closer for the night, immediately following his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, he weaved nuts-and-bolts Democratic principles along with what he saw as a road map for the party. He paid tribute to Joe Biden, his former vice president — one of the few speakers to do so Tuesday night — and said making that pick was one of the best decisions he had made.
He called for Americans to spurn divisiveness that grows into blind hatred of one another. Obama made the case for Kamala Harris, ticking through her accomplishments as attorney general of California, then as vice president, saying she helped take on drug companies and the high price of insulin and helped lower health care costs.
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