Taking advantage of Hillary Clinton's slim lead over Donald Trump in most polls, President Barack Obama is out on the stump hoping to bolster Democratic candidates in an effort to retake the House of Representatives.
“He’s bullish about Democratic prospects in the upcoming election, including for the House of Representatives,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told me on Monday.
And while some pundits think the Democrats may be well-positioned to reclaim the Senate, most think the path to the House is much tougher.
Currently Republicans have a 247-to-188 edge in the House. Few think Democrats can win the “magic 30" seats necessary to win a simple majority of 218 in the 435-seat House.
But Earnest said Obama is pushing hard: “That's why you’ve seen the president taping television and radio advertisements. That's why you’ve seen the president taping robo-calls or sending emails, encouraging people to actively support Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives.”
Last week, Obama issued a strong endorsement for Democrat Christina Hartman, who is waging a spirited campaign for the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Joe Pitts in Pennsylvania’s 16th District. The district has been in Republican hands without interruption since the Civil War, when it was held by vigorous slavery opponent and GOP Rep. Thaddeus Stevens.
Obama spoke in La Jolla, Calif., on Oct. 23 on behalf of retired U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Doug Applegate, the Democratic opponent to Rep. Darrell Issa.
Denouncing the incumbent as “shameless,” Obama charged that “Issa’s primary contribution to the United States Congress has been to obstruct and to waste taxpayer dollars on trumped-up investigations that have led nowhere. And this is now a guy who, because poll numbers are bad, has sent out brochures with my picture on them touting his cooperation on issues with me.”
As to the president's role, Earnest said, “I think the president is enthusiastic about the chances that Democrats have in the upcoming election, and he is eager to use his widespread popularity across the country to benefit them."
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.