Obama cites $2 trillion war cost at Ohio rally

Former President Barack Obama pointed to a $2 trillion cost for a war with Iran that he called unnecessary. He made the claim while campaigning for Democratic candidates in Ohio on Saturday.

The former president said the current administration started a conflict that nobody asked for. He described the past two years as a period of chaos, cruelty, and corruption that he said voters had not seen in the modern era.

Obama specifically addressed the Ohio gubernatorial race. He criticized Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for an attack ad that questioned Democrat Amy Acton's background. The ad featured Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, who disputed her daughter's account of childhood homelessness and abuse.

Acton stated she has not seen her mother since 1978. Her brother supported her claim that her stepfather sexually abused her as a child. The stepfather was charged with rape and died in 2004. Obama said Acton spoke movingly about her painful experiences with abuse and neglect.

The former president said he did not know how standards of behavior could be so low that someone would run such an advertisement. He urged Ohioans to vote for change after what he described as two rough years.

Obama shared the rally stage with Acton and former Senator Sherrod Brown. Brown is running against incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted. Current polls show Democrats holding a slight lead in both races, though results are expected to be close.