Obama to campaign for Harris in Pennsylvania next week on swing state tour

By Jeff Mason

(Reuters) -Former U.S. President Barack Obama will kick off a wave of campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, next week with an event in Pittsburgh to rally voters in critical swing states.

Obama gave a well-received speech for Harris at the Democratic National Convention in August and has been an informal adviser to her since she became the Democratic standard bearer after President Joe Biden stepped aside as the party's candidate following a poor debate performance against Republican Donald Trump.

Obama will travel to the major battleground states in the final month of the campaign before Election Day, a senior Harris campaign official said on Friday.

The former president remains popular with the Democratic base and is seen as an effective closer in the final stretch of a campaign that is expected to rely on turnout from base voters in states where the margins for victory are very tight.

"President Obama believes the stakes of this election could not be more consequential and that is why he is doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris, Governor Walz and Democrats across the country," Obama senior advisor Eric Schultz said.

"His goals are to win the White House, keep the U.S. Senate, and take back the House of Representatives. Now that voting has begun, our focus is on persuading and mobilizing voters, especially in states with key races. Many of these races are likely to go down to the wire and nothing should be taken for granted.”

Fundraising and events featuring Obama have raised $76 million in the presidential campaign, Obama's office said.

Obama headlined a $4 million fundraiser for Harris last month in Los Angeles and has appeared in multiple ads for the Harris campaign.

Obama will kick off his efforts with a trip to Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Obama and his wife Michelle endorsed Kamala Harris' bid for president in July.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Heather Timmons and Doina Chiacu)