The Obamas return to their hometown to convince Democrats to support Harris

CHICAGO — He once forged his political career here, but on Tuesday President Barack Obama returned to his hometown to play the role of elder statesman.

“It's good to be home!” Obama opened his speech to an almost deafening reception at the United Center. “I don't know about you, but I'm full of energy!”

The nostalgic reference to Obama's famous chant “Fired up! Ready to go!” triggered renewed roars.

Closing the evening, just after his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, he wove basic democratic principles into what he saw as a roadmap for the party. He paid tribute to Joe Biden, his former vice president — one of the few speakers to do so Tuesday night — and said that election was one of his best decisions.

He called on Americans to avoid divisions that lead to blind hatred among each other. Obama campaigned for Kamala Harris and listed her achievements as Attorney General of California and later as Vice President. She helped to take action against pharmaceutical companies and high insulin prices and to reduce health care costs.

At the same time, Obama took a swipe at former President Donald Trump, chiding him for, among other things, his “weird obsession with crowd size” and gesturing with his hands to indicate something small. It was one of his biggest laughs of the night.

“We don't need four more years of noise, bluster and chaos,” Obama said to applause. “We've seen this movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually even worse.”

Obama also had kind words for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris's running mate.

“I love this guy. Tim is the kind of person who belongs in politics,” Obama said. “You can tell that the flannel shirts he's wearing aren't from some political consultant. They're from his closet, and they've been through a lot.”

Afterwards, Gwen Walz, the governor's wife, appeared on the large video screen in the arena and expressed her full approval with gestures.

Obama came out with more lines that caused great laughter.

“I heard someone the other day compare Trump to the neighbor who runs his leaf blower outside your window every minute of the day,” Obama said, laughing. “That's pretty exhausting coming from a neighbor. The truth is that Donald Trump sees power as a means to an end.”

There was no immediate response from the Trump campaign team to a request for comment.

Obama also urged that the United States be a “force for good” in the world.

“We should not be the world's policeman,” Obama said. “We cannot eradicate every cruelty and injustice in the world, but America can and must be a force for good: preventing conflict, fighting disease, promoting human rights and protecting the planet from climate change.”

Jim Messina, who oversaw Obama's second run for the White House, said Tuesday that Obama's role is to help put this political moment in perspective.

“Tonight is really about him becoming the primary explainer to explain this moment,” he told NBC News. “People forget that he was the first to recognize that Kamala was going to be a star. When she was attorney general, he said to all of us, 'Watch the attorney general in California; she's really good.'”

Harris has turned Biden's old campaign on its head. Since the president resigned on July 21, Harris' campaign has raised a staggering sum: nearly $500 million.

“I mean, this is crazy and shows the enthusiasm on the ground,” Messina said, referring to the huge crowd that came to Harris' aid in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Asked if this moment for Harris is reminiscent of the magic Obama worked over voters in 2008, Messina said there is still room for growth. He said Harris' campaign still needs to reach the next level and truly become “a movement.”

“We are not there yet,” he said.