Barack Obama Just Gave This New Jersey Democrat A Major Boost In The Gubernatorial Race, And The Timing Couldn’t Be Better

Former President Barack Obama has come out in support of Rep. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey’s race for governor, releasing a 30-second ad on Friday. Obama’s backing comes as Sherrill is running against former GOP Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli to take over from Gov. Phil Murphy, whose term is ending next month.

In the ad, Obama talked up Sherrill’s experience and what she brings to the table. As per The Hill, he called her a mom who wants to lower costs for New Jersey families. Obama also mentioned her work as a federal prosecutor and her time as a Navy helicopter pilot, saying she has kept communities safe. The former president said her honesty, toughness, and dedication to service are what leaders need right now.

Obama’s support gives Sherrill a big boost in the final weeks before the election. The latest polls show Sherrill leading Ciattarelli by five points. The Decision Desk HQ polling index has her at 49 percent and him at 44 percent. Obama’s ad comes at a really important moment when Democrats are nervous about whether Black and Hispanic voters will come out to vote.

This Support Matters More Than Usual

The ad is especially important because of what happened in the last election. Trump did better with Black and Hispanic voters in November than expected. This has Democrats worried that these voters might stay home on election day or even vote for Ciattarelli. Having Obama step in could help fire up these groups and get them to the polls before November 4.

Sherrill said she was thankful to have the former president on her side. She sees this election as a chance to do things differently. She wants to push back against the mess in Washington and lower costs here in New Jersey. Her campaign has been trying to tie Ciattarelli to President Trump, especially now that fewer people think highly of Trump and Ciattarelli has been walking a fine line with the former president.

Obama has been jumping into more political fights this fall. Just the day before he backed Sherrill, he threw his weight behind Abigail Spanberger, another Democrat running for governor in a different state. This shows Obama is ready to use his name and reputation to help Democrats win in big races across the country. The next few weeks will show whether this last-minute push makes the difference in the race.