USA Obama campaigns for Harris - and lashes out at Trump

Former US President Barack Obama has campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the politically hotly contested state of Pennsylvania and railed against her Republican opponent Donald Trump.

"There is no sign that this man is thinking about anyone but himself," Obama said of Trump, whose return to the White House Harris wants to prevent. The presidential election takes place on November 5 and polls suggest a close race.

What he cannot understand, Obama said, is why anyone believes that Trump wants to change things for the better. Trump is a "78-year-old billionaire who hasn't stopped whining about his problems since he came down his golden escalator nine years ago". Obama was referring to the moment when Trump first announced his presidential bid in 2015.

"There are the tweets in capital letters, the ranting and raving about crazy conspiracy theories, the two-hour speeches, the word salad, (...) the constant attempts to sell them something. Who does that?" asked Obama. Trump is all about his ego, his money and his status. "He's not thinking about you. For Donald Trump, power is nothing more than a means to an end."

Pennsylvania is considered by many US analysts to be perhaps the most important state in the election. Due to the high number of people voting, an overall victory for both candidates is much more difficult without this state.