Obama Warns Democrats on Down-Ballot Focus

Former President Barack Obama urged Democrats to concentrate on down-ballot races while praising Vice President Kamala Harris' recent convention speech, emphasizing the importance of tackling structural issues in politics. He warned that merely electing Harris without addressing these foundational problems could lead to the same partisan gridlock he faced. Meanwhile, over 200 former Republican staffers publicly endorsed Harris, criticizing Donald Trump as a threat to democracy, a move dismissed by the Trump campaign as irrelevant. Trump's team claimed that the endorsers are unknown to the public and suggested they are more interested in opposing Trump than in supporting Harris. Former Obama strategist Jim Messina pointed out that Trump's campaign is struggling to adapt to Harris' candidacy, with the race shifting focus away from Trump. Messina noted that the Harris team is effectively highlighting Trump's flaws, contrasting their approach with Trump's struggling campaign management.