My former boss Barack Obama, who also happens to remain a beloved figure among Democrats, hit the trail Thursday on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris. The benefits are obvious. He remains the best speaker, perhaps second only to his wife, Michelle Obama, in the Democratic Party. He is very popular among key groups including Black voters, independents, women in the suburbs and young people. And he certainly has some things to get off his chest.
And though we are 24 days away from Election Day, registration deadlines are approaching in a number of states. And in several key swing states, voting has already begun.
Obama's goal of pushing people out the door is clear. He is great at that. But that's not the only benefit. There are few politicians who drive Donald Trump crazier. And Obama clearly knows that, hence his DNC joke about size. Obama had what Trump could never achieve: two scandal-free terms and soaring popularity when he left office. In fact, when they met in the Oval Office just two days after the election, Obama's popularity was already on Trump's mind.
Obama plans to do rallies in numerous battleground states between now and November. And yes, the intention is definitely to rally support, to energize people. But I'll be watching closely to see how Trump copes with watching Obama — a man more popular than he could ever hope to be — jab at him over and over again on the campaign trail with Harris.
Read more exclusive insights from Jen Psaki here. And tune into "Inside with Jen Psaki" Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, and Sundays at 12 p.m. ET on MSNBC.
