Obama to rally with Democrats at Cass Tech in Detroit

Former President Barack Obama is expected to rally with Michigan Democrats on Friday in Detroit in an effort to enthuse voters and boost candidates ahead of the Nov. 6 mid-term election. 

The Michigan Democratic Party confirmed the planned visit Tuesday morning and announced that former Attorney General Eric Holder will join Obama as he campaigns for Michigan candidates up and down the ticket.

The rally will likely take take place Friday evening at Detroit Cass Tech High School. The event is expected to happen sometime after 5 p.m. but a precise start time has not been specified. 

Tickets are free and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, one ticket per person. Tickets can be picked up on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.. at 12 different Democratic Party offices across Michigan:

Detroit - 13th District: 18611 Warren Ave, Detroit
Detroit - 14th District: 18409 Livernois Ave, Detroit
Southwest Detroit: 7607 W. Vernor St, Detroit
Grosse Pointe: 17700 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe
Livonia: 37144 Six Mile Rd, Livonia
Troy: 1787 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy
Southfield: 17100 Twelve Mile Rd Suite 5, Southfield
Dearborn: 4960 Schaefer Rd, Dearborn
Sterling Heights: 37710 Van Dyke, Sterling Heights
Ann Arbor: 3502 W Liberty Rd, Ann Arbor
Pontiac: 138 N. Saginaw Street, Pontiac, MI
Flint: 3518 Robert T. Longway Blvd. Flint, MI

Obama is set to campaign with Democrats such as U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer and her running mate Garlin Gilchrist, and congressional candidates Matt Longjohn (6th District), Gretchen Driskell (7th), Elissa Slotkin (8th) and Haley Stevens (11th). 

The visit could be a boon for those candidates as it helps to provide a contrast with Republicans who have been "hostile to health care" and Obama's signature Affordable Care Act, said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon. 

"He's popular not only with base Democrats, but I think increasingly with independents and anybody who is fed up with the nonsense going on in the White House currently," Dillon said. 

Obama endorsed several Michigan Democrats earlier this month, throwing his political weight behind Whitmer, Slotkin, Stevens and several legislative candidates.

More:Obama rails against GOP, rallies Democrats in Nevada

President Donald Trump has endorsed and praised several Michigan Republicans, including gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette, U.S. Senate challenger John James and 8th District incumbent Rep. Mike Bishop. 

Trump visited Michigan in April for a Macomb County rally but has given no indication if he will return before the general election. Donald Trump Jr. rallied with James last week and daughter-in-law Lara Trump is expected in Michigan on Tuesday for events with James, Schuette, 7th District U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg and 11th Congressional District candidate Lena Epstein. 

Holder now heads the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and is expected to vouch for Proposal 2, the Michigan ballot initiative to create an independent commission that would draw political boundaries every 10 years.

A non-profit associated with Holder’s group donated $250,000 to the ballot campaign in September. The Michigan Democratic Party endorsed all three statewide ballot initiatives at its August nomination convention.

Obama jumped into the mid-term election in early August with a round of endorsements and began campaigning for congressional candidates last month in California. He rallied with Democrats in Nevada on Monday.

The last time Obama campaigned in Michigan was a day before the 2016 election. He rallied for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Ann Arbor instead of Detroit because a city police funeral procession was scheduled for that same day.

joosting@detroitnews.com

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