Barack Obama Launches TV Ad for Whitmer as Dixon Starts to Close Gap

Former President Barack Obama starred in a political advertisement for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer with two weeks to go until she faces Republican opponent Tudor Dixon in the November 8 midterm election.

In the 30-second advertisement released on Tuesday, Obama refers to the Democratic governor as "Michigan tough" and praises accomplishments she made during her first term. The ad was launched by the Put Michigan First political action committee (PAC) and was announced by the Democratic Governors Association.

"Over the last few years, Governor Whitmer has moved Michigan forward," Obama said in the ad. "She's fought for tuition-free higher education and job skills training, paved the way for the first new car plan in Detroit in decades and is leading on next-generation battery and microchip manufacturing."

The endorsement is part of a last-minute push for Whitmer to hold onto her lead as the midterm draws near. The former president is also expected to join the governor and fellow Michigan Democrats in Detroit on Saturday for a Get Out the Vote rally, according to The Detroit News.

Whitmer currently polls 5.4 points ahead of Dixon as of Tuesday afternoon, according to FiveThirtyEight. Dixon has recently gained speed in Michigan, however, closing what was an 11.3 gap before the last gubernatorial debate on October 13.

Dixon, whose campaign has focused blame on Whitmer for statewide inflation and has promised to end the "woke agenda" taught in public schools, has been endorsed by several high-profile Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who rallied for Dixon in October.

Whitmer, on the other hand, has been running based on her record in Michigan over the past four years as well as promising to "fight like hell" to keep abortion legal. Whitmer has also continued to call out Dixon for using divisive rhetoric in her campaigning, and has attempted to paint Dixon as an extremist on issues like abortion.

On Monday, Whitmer posted a video on her personal Twitter account of a "moderate Republican" voter from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who said she was voting for Whitmer because of her support for public education as well as her support for the abortion amendment on the November ballot. The amendment, if passed, would invalidate a 1931 abortion ban currently being blocked by a Michigan state judge.

The candidates will face off in Michigan's final gubernatorial debate Tuesday night at 7 p.m. local time, giving both women the opportunity to rally voters on the hotly contested issues in this election.

Newsweek reached out to Whitmer's campaign for comment on Obama's endorsement.