By Lance Curtis
CLEVELAND — Former President Barack Obama rallied many people at the Cleveland Public Auditorium on Oct. 24, joining gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton and U.S. Senate nominee Sherrod Brown to mobilize supporters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Addressing the crowd, Obama framed the upcoming midterm elections as a “referendum on democratic norms and economic fairness”, urging supporters to channel political anxiety at the ballot box. “Don’t boo. Vote,” Obama said, reprising his signature campaign refrain. “Frustration without participation does nothing. Progress requires showing up.”
The rally brought Ohio’s marquee state and federal contests together on one stage. Acton, the former Ohio Department of Health director seeking the governorship alongside running mate David Pepper, outlined plans targeting household costs, including lower utility bills on utility charges and medical debt relief.
Outside the hall, lines wrapped around nearby streets hours before security opened the auditorium doors. For attendees such as Johnetta Goldwin, a 54-year-old health care worker from Shaker Heights, the rally served as a final mobilization push.
“People are struggling to keep up with daily living expenses,” Goldwin said. “Voting isn’t abstract this year; it’s about having representatives who understand everyday pressure.”
Early in-person voting ended Nov. 1. Election Day polls will be open Nov. 3 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
For broadcast footage and coverage of the speeches, watch this WKYC story on the Obama rally. This video provides direct visual and audio context of the event, capturing the speeches of Obama, Acton and Brown alongside the crowd dynamics.
