Obama Draws Thousands to Democratic Rallies as Polls Show Favorability Gap with Trump

Former President Barack Obama is campaigning for Democratic candidates ahead of the US midterm elections, drawing large crowds at rallies in Ohio and Michigan.

Former President Barack Obama campaigns for Democratic candidates in Ohio and Michigan ahead of the US midterm elections. [Photo: Barrack Obama Facebook]

Polls cited in recent media reports also indicate a difference in public favorability toward Obama and President Donald Trump. Farrah Tomazin reported for The Daily Beast.

CNN data analyst Harry Enten discussed a YouGov/Yahoo poll that reportedly placed Obama’s approval rating at 55%, compared with 37% for Trump.

The figures, as reported by The Daily Beast, suggest a difference in how respondents view the two presidents.

However, approval and favorability ratings measure different attitudes and should not be treated as interchangeable.

The polling discussion followed Obama’s first two rallies of the 2026 midterm campaign. Trump responded with a late-night social media attack against his longtime political rival.

In Cleveland, Ohio, enthusiastic supporters reportedly queued for hours to enter the Cleveland Public Auditorium, which has a capacity of approximately 10,000 people.

The rally formed part of Democrats’ efforts to mobilize voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

In Detroit, Michigan, more than 4,300 supporters reportedly gathered at a school gymnasium, where Obama criticized the administration over what he described as lawlessness, corruption and economic failures.

Obama also accused Republicans of trying to portray Democrats as “radicals, communists, jihadists, woke police.” Responding to attacks against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Obama drew a parallel with the criticism directed at him during his own political career.

“We have seen this movie before. I starred in it,” Obama said, according to the supplied report.

A CNN/SSN survey conducted in June reportedly gave Obama a 57% favorable rating, compared with 34% for Trump.

Because the survey predates the final stretch of the current campaign, it should be treated as an earlier measure of public opinion rather than a direct snapshot of views immediately before Election Day.

Obama’s rallies underscore Democrats’ continued use of the former president as a campaign surrogate. The size of the crowds and the polling figures, however, do not by themselves establish how voters will decide the midterm contests.