Obama slams Trump and Ramaswamy as midterm campaigns intensify

Former President Barack Obama campaigned in Ohio and Michigan on Saturday, delivering sharp criticism of President Donald Trump and Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, as the 2026 midterm elections enter their final stretch. Obama called Trump's second term one of 'chaos and cruelty and corruption and incompetence' and urged voters to use the November 3 election as a 'circuit breaker' to rein in the administration Source: Al Jazeera; NPR.

The Ramaswamy ad controversy

The Ohio governor's race has been dominated by a Ramaswamy campaign ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who calls her daughter a liar and questions her mental health Source: Al Jazeera. Acton has said she has not seen her mother since age 12, after her stepfather was charged with raping her. The ad has drawn bipartisan condemnation, including from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who called it 'deeply, deeply troubling' Source: LA Times; The Guardian. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have defended the ad, with Trump calling it 'very powerful' and saying he encouraged Ramaswamy to keep running it Source: CNBC; The Guardian.

Key dynamics

• Polling: Democrats hold slight leads in both the Ohio governor's race and the Senate race between Sherrod Brown and Jon Husted, though results are expected to be close Source: Al Jazeera; NPR.
• National implications: Obama framed the midterms as a chance to block Trump's agenda, while Republicans see Ohio as a test of Trump's enduring influence Source: CNN; NPR.
• Voter reactions: Some moderate and independent voters told CNN the ad made them less likely to support Ramaswamy, while die-hard Republicans remain in his camp Source: CNN.