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As it happenedended1541444984

Midterms 2018: Obama makes last ditch attempt to win Democrat votes in Virginia with rousing rally speech

Andrew Buncombe
Washington DC
Monday 05 November 2018 23:34 GMT
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Barack Obama: 'we have seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric designed to make us angry and make us fearful'

Barack Obama is taking his star power to the campaign trail in a final push to get out the vote as Democrats seek to deliver a blow to Republicans and take control of at least one of the chambers of congress.

Having spent the weekend criss-criss-crossing the country and he exchanged barbs with his successor, Donald Trump, the 44th president made an eve of election day appearance in Fairfax, Virginia.

Speaking at the campaign office of senator Tim Kaine, Mr Obama said people had become disenchanted after his 2008 win and found that things did not “become perfect” overnight.

But he said that by electing people such as Mr Kaine and Jennifer Wexton, a Democratic candidate for congress, progress would be made.

“How we talk to each other gets better. Better is good. Better is a start,” he said. “When you do that everything is going to shine.”

Appearing over the weekend in Indiana and Illinois, Mr Obama attacked Republicans for “blatantly, repeatedly, baldly, shamelessly lying” about their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s protections for those with pre-existing conditions. He also accused Trump of stoking fear over a group of migrants headed towards the US-Mexico border.

“America is at a crossroads. The character of our country is on the ballot,” he said.

This is how his appearance played out

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Here's the media waiting for Mr Obama at Virginia Senator Tim Kaine's Fairfax campaign field office 

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:03
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Mr Obama has just arrived , wearing a leather bomber jacket

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:07
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And they brought donuts:

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:09
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Mr Kaine is seeking reelection. And they're also there to support congressional candidate Jennifer Wexton

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:10
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Mr Kaine is now reminding people how Virginia called it for Mr Obama in 2008 - and shortly afterwards was named president

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:11
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Obama's voice sounds pretty hoarse 

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:13
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Mr Obama says when he was "presumptuous" enough to run for the White House in 2008, Mr Kaine - then a new Virginia governor - was the the first senior Democrat outside of Illinois to endorse him

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:14
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'I am sure proud not just to support Tim Kaine for an election, but to call him a friend. So make sure you go out and work hard to make Tim Kaine your senator 

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:16
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"One of the reasons I wanted to come here, was that when I come here, you remind me of me when I was your age.....

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:16
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Obama talking about how he began working as an organiser and wanted to make the country "a little bit better and a little bit more kind". "That is what carried me when I ran for the state senate and then decided to make that run in 2008."

Andrew Buncombe5 November 2018 17:19

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