Democrats long for Obama's return
BY AMIE PARNES - 08/21/17 06:00 AM EDT
He’s been out of office for nearly eight months, but former President Barack Obama remains the Democratic Party’s best weapon for 2018.
Democrats are already nostalgic for Obama as they battle against President Trump’s agenda. When he talks, they listen, as evidenced this week by a tweet from Obama about the violence in Charlottesville, Va., that became the most popular in the history of the platform.
The tricky question now facing the party is how to use the former president on the campaign trail.
Some Democrats are pushing for Obama to have a more elevated role, but Obama has made clear he is wary of sliding back into the role of party leader, which could prevent new leaders from emerging. Democrats acknowledge that being stuck in the Obama era is a concern, but say the party can’t afford to have him on the sidelines.
“Democrats badly need Barack Obama,” said Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist. “He offers such a vivid contrast to Trump in behavior and temperament.”
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http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/347181-democrats-long-for-obamas-return