Obama coming to Philly to rally for Democrats

Former President Barack Obama will be in Philadelphia Friday to stump for Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Gov. Tom Wolf, and other Democrats on the ballot this fall.

Obama has been on the road this month, drawing big crowds and leading rallies for candidates in California, Illinois, and Ohio.

He’ll speak to a late-afternoon crowd at the Dell Music Center in North Philadelphia.

He’ll also host a Center City fundraiser for Casey, who holds a comfortable lead over Republican U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta in most polls.

Barletta’s media consultant, John Brabender, said in an interview that Obama wouldn’t be coming to Pennsylvania if Democrats didn’t fear a repeat of 2016, when Hillary Clinton led in polls throughout the campaign, but lost to Donald Trump.

“A lot of people believe that the formula is there again in 2018 just like it was in 2016,” Brabender said. “You have a lot of people who are the sons and daughters of Reagan Democrats who have very high opinions of this president and are very likely to then vote for the Republican candidate.”

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, Jr. will headline a fundraiser for the Pennsylvania Republican Party in Hershey Friday night.