Obama places $2 trillion price tag on Iran conflict in Ohio speech

Former President Barack Obama joined the Democratic midterm effort in Ohio on Saturday, using the state's high-profile races to criticize President Donald Trump's second term.

Obama directed his harshest remarks at the administration's foreign policy, specifically the US-Israel war against Iran. He estimated the conflict has cost Ohio $2 trillion. "The current president chose to make a series of bad decisions, most importantly, he decided to start an unnecessary war that nobody asked for," Obama said.

The former president framed the election as a chance for voters to reject what he described as two years of chaos and incompetence. "You get a chance to say, ‘Enough is enough,’" he told the crowd.

Obama also weighed in on the gubernatorial race between Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. A recent attack ad from Ramaswamy featured Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, disputing Acton's account of childhood homelessness and sexual abuse by her stepfather. Acton has not seen her mother since 1978, and her brother supports her account. The stepfather, who died in 2004, was charged with rape.

"We've seen there is no line he will not cross," Obama said of Ramaswamy's campaign tactics. He stated that Acton has "spoken movingly about her painful childhood and all she's experienced: abuse, neglect and homelessness."

The rally featured Acton and former Senator Sherrod Brown, who is running for a comeback against incumbent Senator Jon Husted. Current polls show Democrats holding a slight lead in both Ohio races, though results are expected to be close.