Toles-Bey, a 62-year-old small-business owner, voted for the former president twice, despite never participating in elections before. He now closely follows politics, a passion he attributes to Obama's influence. After Obama left office, Toles-Bey started a T-shirt company named You Can't Trump God, as a response to the emotional distress caused by President Trump's election. While waiting outside one of Obama's recent rallies, Toles-Bey expressed doubts about whether Obama's idealism still has a place in today's highly polarized political environment. "It's a different world we're living in," Toles-Bey observed. As Obama travels across the country to support Democratic candidates, some members of the coalition that propelled him to the presidency are feeling anxious for something new. Despite sticking to his familiar themes of idealism and hope, Obama's speeches during this election cycle are making some supporters question if they are witnessing a relic from a time of more civil political discourse. The New York Times reports that Obama continues to be a key figure in the Democratic Party, lending his support to high-profile candidates like Andrew Gillum, Stacey Abrams, and Joe Donnelly in the final week of the campaign. However, Trump's presidency has challenged Obama's approach to change, causing some disillusionment among the voters he once energized. Obama's advisers believe that he doesn't see resisting Trump and inspiring voters as mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by his speeches this summer that openly criticized the current president. However, like Toles-Bey, some Obama supporters now prefer a more aggressive approach towards Trump, as the new generation of progressives is pushing back harder than Obama typically does. "For a long time, older generations have dictated how politics should be, but we are challenging that," said 20-year-old Gabriella Lorance, who attended an event with Obama in Milwaukee. She was only 10 when he first became president. Lorance and her friends listed their favorite politicians as Jason Kander, Beto O'Rourke, and Sharice Davids, all of whom are known for their strong stances. Obama did not make their list. "There needs to be a new approach to creating change," stated LaTosha Brown, a co-founder of Black Voters Matter and organizer. She expressed her respect for Obama, noting his background as a community organizer, but she now views him as a "constitutionalist" in a time where more radical action is needed. Brown emphasized the need for change and stated, "Enough is enough. We cannot continue to be told to wait, vote, and prove our loyalty to this nation." 

The division seen may foreshadow potential conflicts among liberals in the future. In the upcoming years, as Democrats look for a new leader to replace Obama, the tone in which they oppose Trump will be just as important as their policies. Some potential candidates for the 2020 presidential nomination have already made controversial statements against Trump, such as Joe Biden threatening to physically fight him and Eric Holder altering Michelle Obama's famous quote to a more aggressive stance. "This is the focus of the new Democratic Party," Obama frequently mentions conservatives in his speeches, shifting between criticizing the modern Republican Party and reaching out to "compassionate conservatives" who want to build a coalition. However, the next generation of Democrats may choose a more unwavering approach. In the midst of recent political violence, two progressive Democrats, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, stood out for their strong language. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "Imagine if it was ISIS committing these acts of violence. How would this administration respond?" Tlaib took it a step further. In a tweet, she criticized Trump for blaming the Pittsburgh shooting on members of the #TreeOfLifeSynagogue, calling out his lack of leadership and compassion as POTUS. She emphasized that the victims were fellow Americans who deserved better than to be killed by a terrorist with an AR-15 assault rifle. Michelle Obama and her adviser Valerie Jarrett have both defended the importance of maintaining decency and appealing to "better angels" during Trump's administration, despite the frustrations among Democrats. Jarrett highlighted Obama's commitment to staying true to his message, rather than simply giving in to what people may want to hear in the moment. You convey to them the message that you believe is important for them to listen to. This is the essence of leadership." Some of Obama's supporters agreed with Jarrett. Kasey Dean, 28, who waited for Obama before his rally in Nevada last week, said it was the responsibility of politicians to inspire the country in times of uncertainty rather than resorting to fear. Hallie Sebena, 34, who attended Obama's rally in Milwaukee, stated that "there are ways to resist without being unethical." "We need discussions that start from a place of respect," Sebena added. Other liberal voters mentioned that they were so angered by Trump's administration that it influenced what they seek in a Democratic messenger. Tom Mooshegian, 64, in Las Vegas suggested that the person who runs against Trump in 2020 will need to be more of a "fighter" in order to match his style. Dana Williams, 41, also in Las Vegas, expressed concern that Trump's style of politics emphasizes personal attacks and suggested that Democrats may need to respond with a similar approach. Another attendee, Brown, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to match Trump's intensity. Obama, on the other hand, has been advocating for a more hopeful, civil, and incremental approach to politics in his recent speeches. In Milwaukee last week, Obama emphasized that the upcoming election is about more than just politics. He emphasized the importance of having a politics that is decent, honest, and lawful, and that prioritizes doing right by people and reflecting the values of the country. After staying out of the political arena for over a year, Obama has returned this summer to focus on supporting Democrats in key Senate races. He also tends to host rallies in urban areas with voters who are historically less likely to vote in midterm elections, such as young people and minorities. Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for Obama who now leads a liberal media company, mentioned that the former president's views have changed on important topics like voter suppression and structural racism. Favreau stated that the Republican Party has become more openly associated with white identity politics and reducing immigration, while Obama has become more direct in his criticisms. By doing this, he has shown a way for Democratic candidates to critique without resorting to negative campaigning. Favreau highlighted campaigns like Gillum's in Florida, Abrams' in Georgia, and O'Rourke's in Texas as examples of the next generation and evolution of Obama's message of hope. He emphasized that simply attacking Donald Trump and Republicans with insults is not enough, and that a more comprehensive approach is needed. "What voters desire is for individuals to advocate for various causes." (New York Times News Service, 2018)