Ohio Midterms: Obama Cites $2 Trillion War Cost

Voters in Ohio received a direct plea from Barack Obama on Saturday to vote for change in the upcoming midterm elections. The former president spoke at a Democratic rally, urging citizens to end what he described as two years of chaos, cruelty, corruption, and incompetence under the current administration. He told the crowd that they now have the opportunity to say enough is enough.

Obama focused heavily on foreign policy, criticizing President Donald Trump for starting an unnecessary war that nobody asked for. He referred specifically to the US-Israel war on Iran, which he noted has cost the nation $2 trillion. The former president argued that the current leader made a series of bad decisions that have negatively impacted the country.

The rally also addressed the heated gubernatorial race in the state. Obama spoke out against an attack advertisement aired by Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy targeting Democrat Amy Acton. The ad featured Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, who disputes her daughter’s account of childhood homelessness and sexual abuse by a stepfather. Obama stated that Ramaswamy has crossed every line and sunk to every low, questioning why standards of behavior have dropped so far.

Acton has maintained she has not seen her mother since 1978. Her brother supports her account of the abuse, and the stepfather, who died in 2004, was charged with rape. Obama backed Acton, noting that she has spoken movingly about her painful childhood, including experiences of abuse, neglect, and homelessness.

The former president shared the stage with Acton and Sherrod Brown, Ohio’s former Democratic senator. Brown is attempting a comeback against incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted. Recent polls show a slight lead for Democrats in both the gubernatorial and senatorial races, but results are expected to be close.