Do for Hillary what you did for me, Barack Obama urges Americans in key state of Michigan
Outgoing US President Barack Obama on Monday urged Americans to make history by electing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as the country’s 45th President.
Outgoing US President Barack Obama on Monday urged Americans to make history by electing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as the country’s 45th President.
Reminding voters that his administration rescued the state's dominant auto industry from the brink of collapse in 2008, Obama, at a rally in Michigan on the eve of the vote, appealed people to reject the "mean-spirited" politics of Republican candidate Donald Trump.
"I ask you to do for Hillary what you did for me," Obama said.
"You have the chance to reject a coarse, divisive, mean-spirited politics that would take us backwards. The chance to elect our first female president," Obama added.
Michigan, normally a Democratic stronghold, has emerged as a crucial battleground this year, one that Trump, the Republican nominee, hopes will give him a path to victory.
Obama said that people who supported him in the 2008 and 2012 elections need to "trust him" again and go vote for Democratic party.
Obama, who won the state in both his presidential election campaigns, directed his remarks to young people, African Americans and automobile workers, three groups that the Clinton campaign needs to mobilise to be able to triumph in Tuesday's election over her Republican rival.
"Michigan, whatever credibility I've earned after eight years as President, I am asking you to trust me on this one. I already voted. I voted for Hillary Clinton. Because I am absolutely confident that when she is President, this country will be in good hands," Obama said.
Clinton was also scheduled to campaign on Monday in Michigan, a traditionally Democratic state that her campaign team felt certain it would win until the polls began tightening recently, although the former Secretary of State still maintains a 5-point advantage over Trump.
Obama's visit shows the importance that the Democratic campaign assigns to its 16 electoral votes and its concerns that a significant portion of white working class voters could cast their ballots for Trump.
The President called upon voters not to be "bamboozled", adding that "in his 70 years on Earth, (Trump) has never shown any regard for working folks. I don't think he knows working people except for the folks who clean up in his hotels and the folks who mow the fairway on his golf course. He didn't care about working people then -- he won't now", if he becomes President.
Obama said he was feeling a little "sentimental" because this is the last time he would be out campaigning for anyone for some time, and he recalled his famous slogan "Yes, we can".
"America is not about what one person can do for you. I didn't say, 'Yes, I can', I said, 'Yes, we can'. I told you I wasn't a perfect man, wouldn't be a perfect President, but I said, I will work alongside you," he said, emphasising that Trump had always been a self-serving and self-centred businessman.
The President is also scheduled to campaign in New Hampshire on Monday, later travelling on to Philadelphia where he will appear with First Lady Michelle Obama, Clinton and her husband -- former President Bill Clinton -- her daughter Chelsea Clinton, along with singers Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi.
Meanwhile, Clinton made her first campaign stop of the day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a key state that does not have early voting, where she asked people attending her rally to vote thinking about their "future".
The voting to elect 45th President of US will take place on Tuesday, November 8. The voting is expected to open between 6 am to 7 am and close at around 7 pm to 8 pm in most of the areas. It may continue till 9 pm in Iowa and North Dakota.
Around 120 million Americans are expected to cast their votes in Tuesday’s election. Polling will happen in all 50 states on the same day.
With Agency Inputs