PHILADELPHIA- On Monday, former President Barack Obama headlined a rally at Philadelphia’s Liacorous Center for the Harris-Walz ticket, along with singers Bruce Springsteen and John Legend, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, and State Rep. (and Auditor General candidate) Malcolm Kenyatta.
It was officially dubbed the GOTV Concert with President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen. The message was about voting in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania and electing the Harris-Walz ticket.
Pop star John Legend takes the stage at @vp rally in Philly, starts with “Change is gonna come,” a song by Sam Cooke. pic.twitter.com/BEqe4GELqq
— Jarrett Renshaw (@JarrettRenshaw) October 29, 2024
Legend, who attended college in Philadelphia, sang several songs before giving an impassioned political speech while sitting at the piano, while Springsteen performed a solo acoustic set, including “Promised Land,” “The Land of Hopes and Dreams,” and “Dancing in the Dark.” Obama and Springsteen appeared for a rally last week in Georgia, although unlike the previous one, the Philadelphia rally did not feature Harris herself. Still, the candidate had rallied in Philadelphia the previous day.
NOW: “Donald Trump had 4 years, we saw what he did with those 4 years”, John legend speaks at Haris Rally with Obama and Springsteen in Philadelphia, “Neo-nazis marched in the streets of Charlottesville. He tried to make excuses for that”. pic.twitter.com/bqWPcK530G
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) October 28, 2024
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Obama closed out the festivities, and while he hit many of the notes of his previous speeches on the campaign trail, while also frequently using his old “don’t boo- vote” line.
The former president also commented on the rally Trump had held the day before, which included shocking jokes that were directed at ethnic minorities.
Obama: The man holds this rally and the warm up speakers were peddling the most racist, sexist, bigoted stereotypes. One guy called Puerto Rico an “island of garbage.” These are fellow citizens he’s talking about. Here in Philadelphia, they are your neighbors, they are your… pic.twitter.com/6g4WTAgXkW
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 29, 2024
“The Man holds this big rally at Madison Square Garden, and the warm-up speakers were saying, were trotting out and peddling the most racist, sexist, bigoted stereotypes,” Obama said. “One guy called Puerto Rico, quote, an island of garbage.”
“Here is a good rule,” Obama added. “If somebody doesn’t respect you, doesn’t see you as fellow citizens.. you should not vote for them.”
The rally took place in the same building where Kamala Harris and Tim Walz held their first rally on the day Walz was named to the ticket in August. The August rally was at capacity, and Obama and Springsteen were very close to it; Trump’s rally in that venue in June was decidedly not full.
Featured image via Stephen Silver
