Former President Barack Obama was the headliner at a star-studded rally at Temple University’s Liacouras Center on Monday night, making the case for the capacity crowd to get out the vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Obama was the closer after speeches from U.S. Senator Bob Casey and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. Musicians John Legend, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and Bruce Springsteen performed short sets and added their voices behind the Democratic presidential candidate.
Obama energized the crowd for more than 40 minutes, offering his viewpoints on why Harris, not former President Donald Trump, was the best choice.
“I know who you’re voting for since you’re here,” he said to chuckles. “But I need you to talk with your family, your friends, your neighbors. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last day for early voting, so make a plan to vote.”
He criticized Trump’s remark from the September 10 debate with Harris, saying that he spent four years trying to tear down the Affordable Care Act. And when given the opportunity to tell the country what he would do to replace the ACA, replied he has “concepts of a plan.”
Obama spoke on the strength that America gains from its immigrants and that Trump’s Sunday night rally at Madison Square Garden showed a candidate that it unserious and dangerous.
Casey railed against Republican candidate Dave McCormick as a carpetbagger from Connecticut, as well as attacking his coziness with China as the CEO of the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.
Parker opened the evening and involved the audience with a pair of interactive response calls, asking the crowd to chant “One Philly” as well as asking alf the group to say “Kamala Harris” and the other half to alternately chant “For the People.”
This story will be updated.