Barack Obama rallies Democrats before US midterms

Former US president Barack Obama is campaigning for Democratic candidates days before midterm elections that will decide control of Congress for the rest of President Donald Trump's term.

Obama headlined three rallies this week, including an appearance in Atlanta on Wednesday for Senator Jon Ossoff, who is running for reelection in Georgia. He also rallied voters in Ohio and Michigan.

At the Atlanta rally, the crowd revived Obama's 2008 campaign slogan, chanting: "Yes we can." Obama told supporters that the country was in "serious times" and criticised political leaders who, in his words, "enjoy insulting and dividing instead of bringing people together to solve problems."

Trump has also been holding campaign rallies across the country, including in traditionally Republican states where races are competitive.

Some Democrats see Obama as a turnout asset as the party looks for national leadership ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Voters interviewed at the Atlanta rally differed on how much influence one speech could have, with one student saying Obama could energise Democrats and one teacher saying voters were focused on prices and their own lives.