COLUMBUS, OHIO — President Obama on Tuesday called on Ohio voters to help power Hillary Clinton to the presidency just as they did for him in back-to-back elections, and warned working-class voters here not to be “bamboozled” by Donald Trump.
Mr. Obama said Mrs. Clinton has the experience to build upon the progressive agenda that he has fought for over the last eight years that has led to a better economy, more jobs, and expanded health care coverage.
“There is only one candidate in this race who has dedicated her life to a better America and that is the next president of the United States — Hillary Clinton,” Mr. Obama said. “But make no mistake, this is not something you can take for granted. All the progress we made goes out the window if we don’t do our jobs in these next seven days. Our future depends on what you do these next seven days.”
Turing to Mr. Trump, Mr. Obama said the Republican presidential nominee is “temperamentally unfit to be commander-in-chief” and mocked the idea that he is a champion for working people.
“Come on, this guy?” Mr. Obama said. “Don’t be bamboozled.”
Mr. Obama’s appearance in Ohio underscored its importance in the 2016 election. Without Ohio, Mr. Trump is likely to lose the contest.
As it stands, Mrs. Clinton could use some of Mr. Obama’s star power here in Ohio, where she is trailing Donald Trump by 2.5 percentage points.
Mrs. Clinton has been playing damage control since FBI Director James Comey notified Congress Friday that security officials had renewed the investigation into her use of a private email server.
Mr. Obama did not directly address the controversy, but urged voters to tune out the distractions in the race, and said Mrs. Clinton has made mistakes like anyone else in public life.
He also said he hopes Ohioans are as excited about voting as Cleveland Indians fans have been about the “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion that Taco Bell has been running during the World Series in which the fast food chain is giving out free tacos for stolen bases.
“If you can find the time to get a free taco then you can find the time to go vote,” Mr. Obama said. “It is like a combo meal. You get something good for your soul and then you get something good for you appetite.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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