It was more doom and gloom than hope and change.
Former President Barack Obama joined Kamala Harris on the campaign trail for the first time Thursday at an Atlanta rally, where both took turns attacking Donald Trump less than two weeks from Election Day.
“We do not need four years of a wannabe king – a wannabe dictator, running around trying to punish his enemies,” Obama said of Trump, who’s leading Harris in Georgia by more than 2 percentage points, according to the latest polling.
“That’s not what you need in your life,” the 44th president added. “America is ready to turn the page. We are ready for a better story.”
Obama, 63, raged against Trump, accusing him of taking “credit” for “my economy” in his pursuit of a second term in the Oval Office.
“I handed over 75 straight months of job growth to Donald Trump – and all he did was give tax cuts to folks who didn’t need it,” the former president charged.
Obama later stewed over Trump signing his name on pandemic-era stimulus checks “just like I gave people relief during the Great Recession.”
“The thing is, we didn’t put our name on it because it wasn’t about feeding our egos,” he told the crowd.
“He sent you a check,” Obama continued, in a dismissive tone. “Do not fall for that okie-doke. Don’t be bamboozled. Don’t get fooled.”
Obama also claimed that some people are supporting Trump merely because “he was a reality star on ‘The Apprentice.’”
“There are some folks who think, ‘Well, I don’t know, he’s a businessman. He must know something about the economy.’ I’ve heard people say that,” the former president alleged.
The ex-commander in chief also warned that Trump’s White House will be staffed “by people who are just as loony as he is” in his effort to convince Peach State voters to cast ballots for Harris.
The former president and vice president were surrounded by star power at the Atlanta get-out-the-vote rally, which included a performance by Bruce Springsteen and speeches from Hollywood’s Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson and Tyler Perry.
Obama welcomed Harris on stage after his remarks and the vice president continued the attacks against Trump.
“So listen, so much is on the line in this election, and this is not 2016 or 2020,” Harris said. “The stakes are even higher because over the last two years, and in particular, the last eight years, Donald Trump has become more confused, more unstable and more angry.”
“You see it every day,” the vice president argued, just moments after Obama’s tirade against Trump.
Twelve days out from the election, Harris, 60, indicated that it was going to be “a tight race” and declared that there is “a lot of work ahead of us” – even after several states, including Georgia, have already started early voting.
“Let’s imagine it for a moment. It’s either Donald Trump in there stewing – stewing over his enemies list – or me working for you, checking off my to-do list,” she said, before begging the crowd to get their ballots in.
“Georgia, we need you to vote early,” Harris said. “Please vote early.”
Obama joined Harris on stage after her remarks and the two walked off together, holding hands.