Obama will appear on Biden campaign trail ‘soon’ as presidential race enters final weeks, report says

Former president also appeared in DNC advert on Tuesday

Former US President Barack Obama speaks at an innovative communications conference organised by Les Napoleons network group (AFP via Getty Images)

Former President Barack Obama will “soon” join Joe Biden’s campaign trail as final weeks in the run up to the presidential election, according to a report.

"President Obama plans to hit the trail soon, in addition to all the other activities he’s undertaken all year in support of electing VP Biden – as he’s said, we all have to do everything we can to win on 3 November," an aide to the former president told ABC News.

The former president previously joined Mr Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris for a pair of virtual fundraisers but has yet to travel to any traditional battleground states to campaign for the Democratic nominee.

The absence comes in part due to Mr Biden’s own limited face to face campaign style in the name of safety amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday before travelling to Florida, Mr Biden said that his former boss will “be out on the trail”.

"He’s doing enough for our campaign, he’ll be out on the trail, and he’s doing well," Mr Biden said in New Castle, Delaware.

Mr Obama has continually projected messages of voter encouragement in the run up to the election, having advised Americans to make a plan to vote amidst the pandemic.

On Tuesday he appeared in a video for the Democratic National Committee to tell Americans that “when it comes to voting this year having a plan has never been more important.”

He also appealed to younger voters in a clip earlier in September for ATTN urging young demographics not to fall victim to those trying to make them “cynical” of the election process and “trying to get you to believe that your vote doesn't matter.”

“Do not let them do that,” he said in the video. “Our democracy is a precious thing, and it's up to all of us to protect it."

In August, Mr Obama delivered an “unprecedented” speech at the Democratic National Convention condemning Donald Trump's presidency and praising the "character and experience" of his former vice president.

“For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president – and he’s got the character and the experience to make us a better country,” he said.

Mr Biden's campaign hopes to win back support from voters who voted for Mr Obama in 2008 and 2012 but voted for Mr Trump in 2016 or were disenfranchised.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press