Barack Obama has endorsed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s re-election campaign, adding his support to the Democratic incumbent less than a month before the US midterm elections.
In a video released on Friday, the former president praised Mr Shapiro’s record and leadership, urging Pennsylvanians to back him for a second four-year term.
“Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro has your back — and in this election, I’m asking you to have his,” Mr Obama said.
He said voters should elect leaders who showed “decency and integrity” and stood against what he described as the “chaos, cruelty and corruption” in Washington.
The endorsement forms part of a broader effort by Mr Obama to support Democratic candidates in key Senate and gubernatorial contests across the country. He has recorded approximately two dozen video endorsements, including recent messages backing Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, Maine Senate nominee Troy Jackson, Georgia gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee David Crowley.
Mr Obama is also expected to campaign in Michigan later this month for Democratic Senate contender Abdul El-Sayed. Since leaving the White House, he has continued to act as a prominent campaign surrogate for his party, including in efforts to win control of Congress and key governors’ offices.
Josh Shapiro holds commanding lead in Pennsylvania polls
Mr Shapiro is facing Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in Pennsylvania. A Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday put the governor 25 percentage points ahead among likely voters and gave him a 63 per cent job approval rating.
A separate New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena poll released last month showed Mr Shapiro leading by 20 points.
The governor’s strong position in Pennsylvania, one of the most closely watched presidential battleground states, has fuelled speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid. He has repeatedly said his immediate priority is securing re-election.
Mr Shapiro and Mr Obama have been politically aligned for nearly two decades. Mr Shapiro endorsed Mr Obama’s 2008 presidential primary campaign while serving as a state legislator, and Mr Obama described him in the video as “a friend” and “one of my earliest endorsers.”
