On Saturday, former U.S. President Barack Obama appeared in Ohio to rally support for Democratic candidates, directing criticism at Donald Trump and Republican colleagues. At a rally, he said the midterm election fight has crossed the bounds of political decorum, specifically criticizing Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for continuing to air a controversial ad centered on the family background of Democratic opponent Amy Acton.

The ad features Acton's birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling Acton "a liar" and hinting at her mental health issues. Acton served as Ohio's director of health during the pandemic and has previously spoken publicly about childhood experiences of abuse, neglect and homelessness. Obama argued that public figures should preserve basic decency and that political competition should not slide into attacks that use personal pain as material.

Ramaswamy's campaign insisted on continuing the ad, calling it a routine campaign move. After voting in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, Trump also publicly backed the ad, saying that if a mother says that about her child, the content deserves to be placed prominently. Vice President JD Vance also supported the ad, but some Republican leaders, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, called for it to be pulled.

The controversy has pushed Ohio's race into the national spotlight. Acton is facing not only Ramaswamy but also a battle of narratives over family trauma, public health and political attacks. Obama tied the race to cost-of-living issues, criticizing Trump for failing to reduce the cost of living and instead directing attention to projects such as a pavilion on the White House South Lawn and a helicopter landing pad, while using phrases like "home renovation" and "gold decorations" to mock the White House refurbishment.

Nearly a decade after leaving the White House, Obama remains one of the Democratic Party's most powerful political mobilizers. On Saturday, he shared the stage with Acton and former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. Brown is challenging Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted. Obama will then head to Detroit, Michigan, to campaign for Abdul El-Sayed, a public health official. El-Sayed won the primary by a narrow margin and is facing former Republican Representative Mike Rogers. Wayne County, where Detroit is located, had leaned more toward El-Sayed's Democratic opponent in the primary, so Obama's visit is seen as an important move to win Black voters.

Michigan also has open seats this year for governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will face Republican Representative John James. Next week, Obama will also travel to Georgia to join Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms for an event; Trump is planning to deliver a speech in Georgia.