Obama throws support behind Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Former President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro's reelection campaign, releasing a video endorsement Friday as the former president steps up his involvement in key Senate and gubernatorial races in the final stretch before the midterm elections.

Obama praised Shapiro's leadership and record in office and emphasized the importance of electing leaders who demonstrate "decency and integrity" while standing up against what he describes as the "chaos, cruelty and corruption" in Washington.

Several were released Thursday, including videos supporting Democrats in key battleground states: Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson, Georgia gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee David Crowley. Obama is also expected to campaign in Michigan later this month for Democratic senatorial contender Abdul El-Sayed.

Shapiro, who is seeking a second four-year term, is facing Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Most polls show the Democratic incumbent holding a commanding lead with less than a month to go until Election Day.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found Shapiro leading Garrity by 25 percentage points among likely Pennsylvania voters. The survey also found Shapiro with a 63% job approval rating. A separate New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll released last month showed Shapiro ahead by 20 points.

Shapiro and Obama have been politically aligned for nearly two decades, stretching back to when Shapiro served as a state legislator and endorsed Obama's 2008 presidential primary run. In Friday's endorsement video, Obama calls Shapiro a "friend" and "one of my earliest endorsers."

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