Before the election on November 3, both President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama visit states with tight midterm elections, but their favorability ratings reveal a very different picture.
Republicans are trying to hold onto their House and Senate majority, while Democrats are hoping to take advantage of tight elections that might give them control of both houses. The campaign rallies are intended to boost support and boost voter turnout for their respective parties. This week, Obama and Trump are on the campaign trail.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What Happened | Obama and Trump campaigned for their parties ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. |
| Key Locations | Michigan, Ohio and Georgia |
| Political Figures | Barack Obama and Donald Trump |
| Election Date | November 3, 2026 |
| Obama's Favorability | 57% favorable, 37% unfavorable |
| Trump's Favorability | 39% favorable, 57% unfavorable |
| Key Issue | Presidential favorability and support for congressional candidates |
| Why It Matters | The elections will determine which party controls the House and Senate. |
Obama and Trump Campaign in Key States
Trump campaigned in Michigan on Sunday on behalf of Republicans, while Obama traveled to Ohio and Michigan over the weekend to promote Democratic candidates on the ballot. Obama is scheduled to travel to Georgia on Wednesday; Trump also visited the state over the weekend.
A fiercely heated battle is taking place in Ohio between current Republican Senator Jon Husted and former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and former Representative Mike Rogers are running for Michigan’s vacant Senate seat.
Democrats in Georgia are battling Republican opponent Mike Collins for Ossoff’s seat.
Obama and Trump’s Swing State Battle
Both presidents’ political careers have been significantly impacted by the states. Obama’s presidential victory in 2008 and 2012 included victories in both Ohio and Michigan. Trump went on to win both states in 2016 and Ohio once more in 2020 and 2024.
Although Michigan supported Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, Trump won the state back in 2024, underscoring Michigan’s importance as a swing state.
Despite the fact that both Obama and Trump were enthusiastically received by their respective parties, a recent survey comparing the two presidents’ favorability ratings reveals the differences between them.
Obama received a net favorability rating of 20 points from voters between October 2 and 4, which was much higher than Trump’s. Of those surveyed, 57% had a positive opinion of Obama, while 37% had a negative opinion. In the meantime, just 39% of respondents to the same survey claimed to have a positive impression of Trump.
Poll Shows Contrasting Views of Obama and Trump
YouGov polled 2,175 adult U.S. citizens earlier this year between September 1 and September 6, asking them to rank U.S. presidents in relation to how Trump ranked a number of predecessors in a late August Truth Social post.
Just 19% of poll participants agreed with Trump that Obama was a “failure,” while 31% said Obama was “great” and 15% thought he was “near great.” Trump called Obama a “failure” in his post.
Twenty percent said they believed he was “great,” ten percent said they thought he was a “failure.”
Obama and Trump Campaign Ahead
“It’s a basic reality that when someone is viewed more favorably, their impact is going to be greater on the campaign trail because they can be more convincing and they can be on the defensive less than if their popularity is lagging behind,” Panagopoulos said to Newsweek. “The overall findings are clear: Obama is way better positioned.”
Obama is anticipated to continue supporting Democratic candidates this week, stopping in Georgia with Ossoff and Lance Bottoms. In an effort to keep Republicans in control of Congress, Trump is also scheduled to make more campaign stops in crucial states.
