Obama summoned to action as GOP widens cash advantage

When asked if Democrats have become overreliant on Obama every election cycle, particularly without a clear front-runner in the party’s hypothetical 2028 presidential primary, a source familiar with the former president’s thinking told the Washington Examiner that he has “made clear” he would prefer to “transition from player to coach” to help the “next generation of Democrats” who are standing up to lead the party and the country.

The source cited Obama’s endorsements of Texas Democratic Senate and gubernatorial nominees, James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, in addition to Iowa Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek.

“We see that support in many forms: headlining fundraisers, visiting an Austin taqueria with James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, shooting hoops with Josh Turek, and providing private counsel to candidates seeking his advice,” the source said.

That said, Obama has been heavily involved in Democratic campaign operations this cycle. In 2025, he cut TV ads for Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, as well as California’s redistricting referendum. He starred in a similar ad for Virginia’s failed redistricting effort earlier this year.

Despite concerns related to Democrats’ possible overreliance on Obama, party strategists, including Mike Nellis and Mike Lux, welcomed the former president’s return to the campaign trail.

“He’s one of the last few politicians with a positive approval rating throughout the country,” Nellis told the Washington Examiner. “Most people are missing him, especially now with Trump’s approval rating being so low.”

Nellis argued Obama is “going to be an asset on the campaign trail, and people are going to be happy to see him.”

“It’s going to be a net positive for everybody except Donald Trump,” he said.

Lux, the other strategist, agreed, asking why Democrats would not use Obama on the campaign trail, considering the former president’s popularity.

Simultaneously, another Democratic strategist, Garry South, implored Obama to do more, contending “Democrats have been frustrated and a little ticked off that Obama, as our only former president who is in good physical shape and still highly regarded, has not taken a more active and aggressive role in countering Trump II and his destruction and pillaging of America.

“The times don’t call for an aloof, above-the-fray senior statesman right now, the circumstances demand a fighter who will take on Trump and Trumpism,” South told the Washington Examiner.

South then alluded to Obama opening his presidential library in Chicago in June with a star-studded ceremony.

“We don’t need exhibits at the moment,” the strategist said. “We need exertions to help Democrats take back the country in 2026 and 2028.”

The Obamaworld source countered that the former president “certainly understands the stakes of these midterms and will be doing all he can to help elect Democrats in November.”

A poll conducted by CNN and SSRS in June reported that Obama was perceived positively by 57% of the public compared with 34% sharing the opinion of Trump and 30% for former President Joe Biden.

Former President Bill Clinton, the only other living Democratic one-time commander in chief, had a 38% favorability rating in the poll.

Obama’s fundraiser on Monday also coincides with Vice President JD Vance’s first public 2026 election season campaign rally for Trump’s super PAC MAGA Inc. that afternoon in Sterling Heights, Michigan, in support of the state’s Republican nominees for Senate and governor, Mike Rogers and John James, in addition to its 10th Congressional District, Mike Bouchard Jr.

Although Trump and his political advisers did gain an advantage for Republicans with the congressional map post-redistricting, the president and his aides, including former top White House political aide James Blair, have been criticized for not spending some of the $400 million cash on hand that MAGA Inc. disclosed at the end of June.

MAGA Inc.’s cash on hand complements the Republican National Committee’s cash edge over the DNC, $130 million to $16 million, notwithstanding the latter’s debt.

FIVE WAYS KAROLINE LEAVITT HELPED CHANGE THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SHOP

MAGA Inc. only disclosed its first major 2026 election spending last week, reporting that it spent $828,000 on Sen. Darline Graham‘s (R-SC) special election primary runoff campaign after sending its first email the previous week criticizing Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El Sayed.

“MAGA Inc. will be hosting events throughout the nation to ensure that Republicans retain control of Congress in order to finish cleaning up the mess the Biden-Harris-Pelosi-Schumer Democrats left,” MAGA Inc spokesman Alex Pfeiffer told the Washington Examiner. “We’re not going back to their record inflation, open borders, and surging crime.”