Political titans Barack and Michelle Obama to join Harris on trail

• The Obamas are lending their star power to Harris' campaign as the race against former President Trump remains too close to call with less than three weeks to go until Election Day.

The big picture: Former President Obama has already been out campaigning for Harris in battleground states.

• But next week will mark the first time the ex-first lady hits the trail, after giving a rousing speech at August's Democratic National Convention during which she urged voters to "do something" to help get Harris elected.

What to expect: The senior campaign official said the former president will campaign with Harris next Thursday in Georgia, where record numbers of people have already turned out to vote early.

• Michelle Obama will join Harris in Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 26 — which marks the first day of early voting statewide.
• Barack Obama is expected to also stump for Harris in Tucson, Ariz; Las Vegas, Nevada; Detroit, Michigan; and Madison, Wisconsin.

What we're watching: Campaign advisers believe the events with Harris will be huge opportunities to garner enthusiasm to get people to vote before Election Day, according to the senior campaign official.

• The surrogate rallies are also designed to snare grassroots enthusiasm and boost volunteer engagement to turn out the vote, per the official.

By the numbers: The former president's rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last week resulted in people signing up for 981 volunteer shifts.

Flashback: Harris has been friends with the Obamas since the former president was running for Senate 20 years ago.

• She was an early supporter of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, when Harris was San Francisco's district attorney.