Barack Obama has raised more than $13 million for Democrats and debuted new ads telling voters to turn hope into action in November.
The former president stars in a new round of digital spots for the Democratic National Committee, part of a six-figure ad buy across platforms that CBS News viewed exclusively.
In one 52-second ad he never names President Trump. He talks instead about hard years, citizen power, and the ballot box.
"I'll be honest with you: I never imagined some of the stuff that's been going on in our country lately," Obama says.
"But I am energized by the millions of Americans who are taking a stand and demanding change, even when it's hard. That's what hope is all about."
He keeps the pitch simple. "The most powerful office in this country has always been 'citizen,'" he says. "And right now, every one of us can help turn hope into action."
The ads form only one piece of a broader late push. Obama has taped nearly two dozen spots for Democratic candidates and has headlined finance events and direct-mail drives for the DNC and party committees since last year.
Those efforts have brought in more than $13.6 million. A single DSCC fundraiser he headlined this week in Northern Virginia took in more than $3.6 million on its own.
DNC Chair Ken Martin framed the help as fuel for November.
In a statement, Martin said Democrats head into the month "with the wind at our backs and momentum on our side, but we're not taking anything for granted."
"President Obama's support will motivate and mobilize voters in the home stretch and help Democrats across the country win in races up and down the ballot."
Obama struck a more cautious note with donors. In a Wednesday night fireside chat he told them competitive maps have shifted in ways he did not expect.
"There are states right now in play that I would not have imagined being in play," he said. He pointed to Texas Democrat James Talarico polling ahead of Ken Paxton and called Talarico "an outstanding candidate," while adding that Paxton's own baggage "helps."
Still, he refused to treat any lead as locked.
"The point is, the reason I'm saying this is I don't want anyone to think this is a sure thing. But we have a chance."
Over recent days Obama has backed a slate of candidates in key races. The list includes Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson, Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley, Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, and Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro.
He is also scheduled to campaign in Michigan on Oct. 24 with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. At the Northern Virginia fundraiser Obama previewed the stop and brushed off ideological complaints.
"I'm going to go to Michigan to campaign for Abdul El-Sayed," he told donors. "And people are like, 'Well, he's really left wing.' But I don't know, he's for a higher minimum wage and healthcare for all, and it doesn't seem crazy to me. You know, FDR was for that, too."
Earlier this year he mixed campaign optics with lighter moments: shooting hoops in Iowa with candidate Josh Turek and grabbing tacos in Texas with Talarico and Texas gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa.
More trail stops are expected in the coming days. The through-line stays the same. In the ads Obama tells Democrats to "use that hope to make a difference," "get involved," and "win one of the most consequential elections in our country's history."
The money is real. The schedule is filling up. The message leans hard on nostalgia for 2008-style hope while the candidates he is boosting include some of the party's more progressive voices.
Voters will decide in November whether the cash, the ads, and the old slogan still move the needle.
