Barack Obama Back into the Political Spotlight, Campaigns for Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey

By Vianne Ilagan, Christian Post Contributor Friday, October 20, 2017

After taking a long break from politics, former U.S. President Barack Obama is back in the political spotlight. Recently, Obama visited Virginia and New Jersey to show his support for the Democratic gubernatorial candidates as they prepare for the upcoming 2018 midterm elections.

According to reports, his recent public appearances in the two states won't be his last, as he is planning to appear in more public events as 2017 closes. Rutgers University professor David Greenberg recently said that the former president is determined to be an engaged and active former president who is actively playing a role in various social issues.

As the campaign period takes flight, Obama will also conduct campaign work in Newark, New Jersey, where he will have a private "canvass kickoff" for Democratic candidate Phil Murphy. After that, he will go to Richmond to rally another Democrat, Ralph Northam, as he runs against Republican Ed Gillespie.

Obama will then visit Chicago at the end of October to hold his first Obama Foundation Leadership Summit, which is scheduled for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. This event will be attended by a powerhouse group of speakers and guests, including Prince Harry of England, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and artists like Chance the Rapper, rock band The National, and singer Gloria Estefan.

Obama will continue to hit the campaign trail in the coming weeks as he helps the Democrats lay the groundwork for stronger black turnout, especially since more and more are starting to express their dismay over Donald Trump's ways. A Richmond local said Obama's appearance during the campaign, particularly in Virginia and New Hersey, will give them a major boost. "Obama will be a breath of fresh air with the direction this country's going right now," he said.

Before Obama started campaigning for the Democrats, he briefly stepped back into the political spotlight when he publicly defended his existing policies, which the Trump administration is now trying to dismantle.