Obama's Ohio Rally: War Bill and Ramaswamy Ad Fuel Midterm Push

2,000 billion dollars. That is the cost former President Barack Obama assigned to the United States' war against Iran on Saturday. He made the claim while rallying behind Democratic candidates in Ohio ahead of the midterm elections.

Obama argued that President Donald Trump made poor decisions in his second term. He specifically called the conflict unnecessary and stated that no one asked for it. The former president described the administration's first two years as a period of chaos, cruelty, and incompetence. He told the Ohio crowd that they now have a chance to say enough is enough.

The rally focused on two heated races in the state. Obama addressed a controversy involving the gubernatorial contest. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy ran an attack ad against Democrat Amy Acton. In the spot, Donna Arthur, Acton's mother, disputed her daughter's story about a childhood marked by homelessness and sexual abuse by a stepfather.

Acton stated she has not seen her mother since 1978. Her brother supported her account of the abuse. The stepfather, who died in 2004, had been charged with rape. Obama defended Acton, noting that she spoke movingly about her painful history. He criticized Ramaswamy for crossing every line and sinking to new lows in the advertisement.

The former president shared the stage with Acton and former Senator Sherrod Brown. Brown is seeking a comeback against incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted. Polls currently show Democrats holding a slight lead in both Ohio races, but results are expected to be close.