Obama, Georgia Democrats rally in Morrow ahead of midterm election
Former President Obama rallies voters ahead of midterms
Former President Barack Obama took the stage at The Arena at Southlake in Morrow campaigning for U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms. Hundreds of Democratic supporters gathered in Clayton County as statewide candidates worked to drive turnout ahead of Election Day.
ATLANTA - Former President Barack Obama headlined a packed rally at The Arena at Southlake in Clayton County on Wednesday, joining Georgia Democrats to drive early voter turnout with six days left until Election Day.
Obama appears at Georgia rally
What we know:
Obama took the stage in Morrow to headline the Democratic Party's full statewide slate. FOX 5's Deidra Dukes reported from the venue, where supporters waited hours in line before filling the arena.
Speakers addressing the arena prior to Obama included gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, and Sen. Raphael Warnock. Lieutenant governor nominee Josh McLaurin, attorney general nominee Tanya Miller, and Secretary of State nominee Penny Brown Reynolds also took the stage.
The Morrow event is part of a statewide mobilization push during the final days of early voting.
What they're saying:
Obama urged Georgia voters to treat the upcoming election as a decisive turning point.
"When you've campaigned in as many elections as I have, you can tell when an election comes along that just feels a little different," Obama said. "An election where people are so ready for something new, so hungry for something better, so sick and tired of being sick and tired that everywhere you go it feels like change is in the air."
Obama addressed crowd frustrations over federal policies, rising costs, and foreign conflicts, reminding supporters that change happens at the ballot box.
"They can't hear your boos, but they can hear your vote," Obama told the arena.
He framed the midterms as an essential tool to bring accountability back to Washington.
"This election is our last best chance at least reining him in," Obama said. "… It's the circuit breaker in the system, and we need to flip it."
Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms took aim at rising family costs, healthcare cuts, and her Republican opponent, Rick Jackson.
"Together, we can move mountains and conquer billionaire giants," Bottoms told the crowd.
She sharply criticized Jackson's business investments and campaign spending.
"Slick Rick Jackson is running to be Donald Trump's favorite governor, and I'm running to be yours," Bottoms said. Pointing to razor-thin past elections, she urged attendees to reach out to 21 voters each: "Tell them we need a win that is too big to rig."
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff highlighted his casework and bipartisan funding efforts with local leaders across the state.
"Hurricanes and diabetes and gas leaks don't check your party affiliation," Ossoff said. "And when it comes to serving Georgia, I don't either."
Ossoff also rebuked Trump and congressional opponent Mike Collins over federal healthcare cuts and rural maternity closures.
"We have six days, Georgia, and Georgia will bow to no king," he declared.
Down-ballot nominees also urged the crowd to mobilize voters before Friday's early voting deadline. Attorney general nominee Tanya Miller highlighted her courtroom career as a veteran homicide prosecutor.
"I am running to be the people's lawyer, not a politician's lawyer, not a party's lawyer, and not the president's lawyer," Miller said.
Secretary of State nominee Penny Brown Reynolds called on voters to defend democratic norms.
"The Secretary of State must be the guardian of democracy, not a political gatekeeper," Reynolds said, adding that "voting is an act of self-love and an act of self-respect."
Trump has campaigned for Georgia Republicans
The other side:
Trump has made two recent visits to Georgia to campaign for Republican candidates Rick Jackson and Mike Collins. One of the visits was in Perry over the weekend.
RELATED: Trump stumps for Collins, Jackson in Perry rally
FOX 5 Atlanta will provide live coverage throughout the day of former President Obama's visit.
What we don't know:
Campaign officials have also not announced whether Obama will make any additional stops across metro Atlanta before leaving.
In addition, organizers have not yet released specific timing or venue details for former Vice President Kamala Harris’s scheduled campaign stops in Macon and Atlanta later this week.
Harris plans Georgia visit
What's next:
Harris is set to begin a multiday visit to Georgia this week, with events expected to continue at least through Friday.
The former vice president is expected to join the Georgia Democrats in Macon and to attend a rally with Sen. Jon Ossoff. Details have not been released at this time.