Obama calls Trump 'wannabe king' at Harris event

“That's not what you need in your life," he said.

Last Updated: October 25, 2024, 6:37 AM EDT

The race for the White House is heading into the final stretch with most polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump neck-and-neck in key states with less than two weeks to go.

Oct 25, 6:54 am

More than 31 million Americans have voted early

As of Friday morning, more than 31 million Americans cast an absentee ballot or voted early in person, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

Roughly 13.7 million people voted early in person, the lab reported, and more than 17.7 million returned their ballot by mail.

A man votes on the second day of early voting in Wisconsin at the American Serb Hall Banquet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 23, 2024.
Vincent Alban/Reuters

Oct 22, 2024, 9:26 PM EDT

Tulsi Gabbard announces she’s joining Republican Party

Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced Tuesday she is officially joining the Republican Party.

Gabbard made the announcement during an appearance on stage at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Gabbard has been stumping for Trump on the trail and recently advised him ahead of his Sept. 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Her announcement Tuesday marks a further political shift after her run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

"I'm proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I'm joining the Republican Party," Gabbard said, calling the Republican Party the “party of equality” and “common sense” even as Trump repeatedly used insults to make personal attacks against his opponents during his own remarks.

PHOTO: Donald Trump
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard speaks as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump listens during a campaign rally at Greensboro Coliseum, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C.
Alex Brandon/AP

"I am joining the party of the people … and the party that is led by a president who has the courage and strength to fight for peace," Gabbard said.

"I'm looking forward to casting my vote for President Trump, because you are our best and only hope in this election to lead our country toward a future where every one of us can live in a truly free, peaceful and prosperous nation," Gabbard continued, stressing that "every single vote will count."

Oct 22, 2024, 8:40 PM EDT

Eminem takes the stage at Harris rally in Detroit

Eminem took the stage at a Harris rally in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday where he introduced former President Barack Obama.

"I'm here tonight for a couple of important reasons," Eminem said before sharing how much the city means to him. "Going into this election, the spotlight is on us more than ever," he said of the swing state.

Rapper Eminem took the stage in his home state of Michigan to introduce former President Barack Obama at a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Eminem introduces Obama at campaign rally in Detroit

Rapper Eminem took the stage in his home state of Michigan to introduce former President Barack Obama at a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Reuters

The Grammy-winning artist encouraged the crowd to "get out and vote."

Eminem went on to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she supports a future where "freedoms will be protected and upheld" before introducing Obama to the stage.

Oct 22, 2024, 6:55 PM EDT

Walz, Obama energize crowd to get out and vote at Wisconsin rally

At an energetic but not completely packed joint campaign rally to mark early voting in the swing state of Wisconsin on Tuesday, former President Obama and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made their pitch for the Democratic ticket while blasting former Trump’s behavior and character with just two weeks until Election Day.

The rally was held in Madison’s Alliant Energy Center, which is able to hold more than 10,000 people. The event space was not completely filled -- only about two-thirds of the seats and floor space was taken.

Walz took aim at Trump and questioned his ally billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, who Walz claimed was "the real running mate."

Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks at a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, on Oct. 22, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

"So look, Elon's on that stage, jumping around, skipping like a dip*** on these things," Walz said to laughs.

“Seriously, where is Senator Vance, after he got asked the simplest question in the world at the debate, did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election? And after two weeks, he finally said, 'No, he didn't.' That's where he's been spending his time,” Walz said.

Obama then came on stage and embraced Walz.

PHOTO: Former President Barack Obama greets Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz during a campaign rally, in Madison, Wisconsin, on Oct. 22, 2024.
Former President Barack Obama greets Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz during a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, on Oct. 22, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

“Love that dude. Love that man. The kind of person who should be in politics,” Obama said.

At three points during Obama’s remarks at the Madison rally, which was billed as an event where the Democrats pushed early voting on the first day that in-person locations opened in Wisconsin, the former president utilized his old, famous saying: "Don’t boo, vote!"

The crowd started to chant "Vote!" at the end of Obama’s remarks.

“So whether this election is making you feel excited or scared or hopeful or frustrated or anything in between, do not sit back and hope for the best. Do not think this is a distraction or a joke. Get off your couch and do what? Vote," Obama said. "Put down your phones and do what? Vote. Vote for Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States. Vote for Tim Walz as the next vice president of the United States, vote for [incumbent Sen.] Tammy Baldwin and this whole incredible Wisconsin Democratic ticket."

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Oct 22, 2024, 6:43 PM EDT

Harris declines to discuss 'hypotheticals' on possible Trump pardon

Harris declined to discuss a possible pardon of Trump, who was convicted in May in a New York court of 34 criminal counts.

"I’m not going to get into those hypotheticals. I’m focused on the next 14 days," she told NBC's Hallie Jackson.

Asked if doing so could help the country move on, Harris said, "What’s going to help us move on is I get elected president of the United States."

-ABC News' Will McDuffie, Fritz Farrow and Gabriella Abdul-Hakim