Barack Obama set to hit campaign trail for Harris as Michelle stays in background

With roughly a month to go before the presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris appears to feel the need to bring some marquee names out onto the campaign trail in her battle against former President Donald Trump.

Though Barack and Michelle Obama both confirmed their endorsement of Harris soon after she entered the race, it is not until now that the former president has seen fit to truly unleash what the VP hopes his influence on the electorate will be, as Politico reports.

Battleground barnstorming

Obama's itinerary is reportedly set to include stops in a number of critical swing states, starting with an event on Thursday in Pennsylvania.

The former president's efforts represent his longstanding friendship with Harris, which reportedly dates back to his campaign for the Senate in Illinois, as the Associated Press noted.

Obama was said to have played a significant, if behind-the-scenes role in urging Joe Biden's exit from the 2024 race, and he delivered high praise to Harris during his speech at this summer's Democratic National Convention.

“Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion. Kamala wasn't born into privilege. She had to work for what she's got, and she actually cares about what other people are going through,” he said.

In addition to his travels in support of Harris' electoral hopes, Obama will also dedicate his efforts to assisting down ballot Democratic Party candidates in the states he visits.

Noteworthy absences raise eyebrows

Interestingly, despite her husband's commitment to hitting the road in support of the Democratic Party ticket, Michelle Obama has not announced any plans to do the same, as the Daily Mail notes.

Some have suggested that the reason Mrs. Obama may refrain from delivering speeches on behalf of Harris is because she was thought to have stolen the show at the DNC so resoundingly, that even her husband, beloved by the party's base, was somewhat overshadowed in comparison.

Another major figure who has not made significant campaign appearances for Harris thus far is Biden himself, despite early promises to be out front in terms of showing his support, as ABC News reports.

Just last week, as Harris was delivering remarks at a campaign rally, Biden made an unprecedented stop in the White House press briefing room, a move that he likely knew would grab network attention away from his VP at a key moment.

Cynical political observers might suggest that Biden's timing was intentional sabotage borne out of lingering bitterness about his campaign ouster this summer, but whether that is the case, only the president could truly say.