Former President Barack Obama pleaded with Pittsburghers to get out and vote for Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally Thursday evening in front of thousands, urging the crowd that this year’s election is too important to sit on the sidelines.

During his trip to the Steel City, he spoke passionately in front of a large, energized crowd at the Fitzgerald Field House in Oakland. Rallygoers shouted “vote, vote, vote” and stomped their feet, making the bleachers rumble.

Obama said Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, represent a chance to turn the page and move on to a new future of American politics.

“Together, we have a chance to choose a new generation of leadership in this country and start building a better and stronger and fairer America,” Obama said.

Obama took the stage at 7:30 p.m. in front of a capacity crowd of 4,500, according to the Harris campaign. He was joined by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey and other Pittsburgh-area Democrats.

His 45-minute speech touched on Harris’ policies meant to lower grocery prices and rent for Americans, and sought to contrast her record with that of her rival, former President Donald Trump.

Obama appeared to relish his criticism of his successor, insulting Trump for his answer during the Sept. 10 debate when asked about his health care policies when he said, “I have concepts of a plan.”

“Kamala Harris doesn’t have ‘concepts of a plan.’ She has an actual plan to make your life better,” he said. “She has a plan to bring down the cost of things like groceries; she’ll go after corporations that are jacking up prices, just like she went after big banks and for-profit colleges when she was serving in California.

“And believe me, when she does, nobody’s going to want to stand in her way.”

Obama appeared in Pittsburgh as part of a nationwide swing through battleground states on the campaign trail leading up to the Nov. 5 presidential election. He was last in Pittsburgh in 2022, when he rallied in Schenley Plaza to support U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock.

Before the rally, he stopped at a Harris-Walz campaign office in East Liberty and greeted Harris supporters before heading to the Pitt campus.

During his speech, Obama lamented that Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, appear to have only one answer for all of America’s problems: deporting immigrants.

Obama acknowledged that there are issues on the border that need to be addressed, but he said Trump’s rhetoric is meant only to enhance his political message of grievance, not to solve anything.

He said the contrast with Harris could not be more clear.

“You know what would actually help address the border and fix our immigration system: the bipartisan deal that Kamala Harris has supported, even though it’s written by one of the most conservative members of Congress,” Obama said, referring to Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. “That’s the same bill that Donald Trump blocked on purpose.”

Harris and Trump have campaigned extensively in Pennsylvania over the past two months, with dozens of visits between them and their running mates.

Trump held a rally in Scranton on Wednesday. Harris will rally in Erie on Monday.

Pennsylvania is the largest swing state in the country, with 19 Electoral College votes, and polling has shown a tight race.

A Quinnipiac University poll taken from Oct. 3-7 showed Harris with a slight edge over Trump in the Keystone State. Among likely Pennsylvania voters, 49% support Harris and 46% support Trump, just outside the margin of error of 2.6%.

Obama said the Republican Party has strayed too far from its past and the example of longtime Republicans like late Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who served as Obama’s ambassador to Ireland.

“Dan knew the name of every single person in the Steelers organization. He was known for his integrity. … It is so different than what we see out of the Republican nominee. We have seemed to set aside values that Dan stood for.”

Obama also focused on reminding the crowd to get out to vote — early at satellite voting centers, by mail or in person on Election Day — and said it’s imperative to get other less enthusiastic voters to the polls.

“Do not just sit back on your couch. Get out and vote. Vote for Kamala Harris,” Obama said. “If enough of us make our voices heard, we will leave no doubt about the election.”

Here’s a bit of a higher view from inside the rally. We’re a little over two hours out from @BarackObama’s speech.

Stood on a chair for this one (short people problems) @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/UpjUU6mf8M

— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 10, 2024

Many Pittsburghers were ready for the message, lining up hours before Obama’s speech.

Jasmine Green was one of those who waited to see the former president.

Green, 30, of Wilkinsburg, said the most important issues in the campaign are election integrity, abortion rights, women’s rights, health care, global issues and voting rights.

“Harris is the most competent presidential candidate we’ve had I think in an election in a very long time,” she said.

Being that Pennsylvania is a battleground state, Green said, it makes sense that Obama would choose Pittsburgh as the home of his first large rally.

“Western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh specifically have been the heart of the Democratic powerhouse in the state,” she said, especially in the past year.

Though she’s looking forward to this election cycle being over, she said she was excited to see so many people turn out to see Obama.

“It’s scary and amazing that all national eyes are on us this election cycle,” Green said. “Obviously, U.S. elections are incredibly long and incredibly taxing, so the fact that we are less than a month out and people are still this hype is great.”

Here’s a view from the bottom of the hill (the end of the line to get into the @BarackObama rally) @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/c7k4wblZmh

— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 10, 2024

Attendees are being admitted into the Fitzgerald Field House on Pitt’s campus for the @BarackObama rally.

Here’s a live look at the security process @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/oAqyOBAHUK

— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 10, 2024

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