What candidate can you point to and say Obama is a big reason how they got elected? With the exception of Biden in 2020, NONE.
Moving the goal posts here. First you said he was irrelevant, and now you're asking for elections where he was a "big reason" the candidate won.
During the course of a campaign, you'd like to think that voters connect with the ideas and/or track record of the candidate. Nationally popular member of their party comes in and lends support, visibility, cosign and amplifies that candidates message.
And helps to increase voter turnout for that election.
Obama is not a pied piper controlling children/rats with a trance flute like Maga , and he doesnt have to be.
Florida: Obama won this state twice. In 2016, Trump won Florida. In 2018, Trump is largely the reason DeSantis got elected Governor over Gillum who Obama campaigned for.
Ohio: Trump is the main reason JD Vance (a no name dude who never held elected office) got elected Senator in 2022.
PA: Trump is the main reason Dave McCormick got elected Senator and beat the sitting Dem Senator in 2024 who had been a Senator for 18 years and was running for his 4th term.
Montana: Trump is the single reason a no name candidate that never ran for elected office before won the primary and beat the Democrat incumbent, who had been a Senator for 18 years and was running for his 4th term.
Michigan: Trump almost single handedly got Mike Rogers elected to the Senate. Only lost by 22,000 votes. Michigan is a blue state that Trump flipped twice. The Governor, Secretary of State, AG, US Senators are all elected Democrats.
There's also a shytload of members in the US House that were elected solely because of Trump.
Goal post moving.
If you want to credit Obama for Virginia turning blue in federal elections (which I don't credit Obama for) then credit Trump for turning Ohio and Florida permanently red. (Which, he should get credit for)
I was pointing that in this particular case, the state voters would be especially receptive to his final weekend stumping.
Was countering your take of him being irelevant.
The only people that care about the Obamas are Democrats. And by the way, the Democrat party isn't even fully united behind Obama. The left and some Progressives don't even like Obama. Meanwhile, Trump has made the Republican party in his image and it's a cult of personality. Anyone who goes against Trump loses their seat or is forced to resign.
Winning an election in close states requires bringing along moderates and potentially getting members of the other party to make a switch. Obama has NO INFLUENCE WITH THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE ANYMORE.
Country is as polarized as its been in a long time because of Trump. And despite him openly bullying people, there are Republican elected officials who have pushed back against him.
I think the average voter sees the direction Trump is leading the country, and progressives, moderates and registered Republican are privately worried and/or regret voting, sitting out.
They outsmarted themselves. Obama pointed out in the appearance that there were those who warned them ahead of 2024, and Trump openly said what his plans were going to be.
Rational voters arent married to political dogma. They end up shooting themselves in the foot that way and giving the keys to a tyrant.