Toles-Bey, a 62-year-old small-business owner, had never voted in an election before but ended up voting for the former president twice. He is now constantly following politics, a habit 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 way to cope with the emotional distress caused by President Trump's election. Despite his admiration for Obama, Toles-Bey questioned whether his idealistic approach to politics was still relevant in today's divisive political climate. "It's a different world we're living in," he remarked while waiting outside one of Obama's recent rallies. As Obama campaigns for Democratic candidates across the country, some members of the coalition that helped him become the first black president are feeling anxious for something new. Despite Obama's consistent focus on themes of hope and idealism during this election cycle, recent acts of domestic terrorism have shaken the political landscape. Supporters are questioning whether Obama's speeches are a relic of a more civil era in politics. People observe Barack Obama addressing a crowd at a rally in Las Vegas on October 22, 2018. The New York Times reports that Obama continues to be a major Democratic supporter, campaigning for key candidates like Andrew Gillum, Stacey Abrams, and Joe Donnelly. However, his approach to Trump's presidency has caused some disillusionment among the voters he once mobilized, such as young people and minorities. Despite this, Obama's advisers argue that he does not see resisting Trump and inspiring voters as mutually exclusive, highlighting his recent speeches that criticized Trump without directly naming him. However, some Obama supporters, like Toles-Bey, now prefer a more aggressive approach in confronting Trump, as the new generation of progressives is pushing back harder than Obama typically does. Gabriella Lorance, 20, who was 10 when Obama was first elected, expressed this sentiment while attending an event with her friends in Milwaukee. They admire politicians like Jason Kander, Beto O'Rourke, and Sharice Davids, but Obama is not among their favorites. LaTosha Brown, an organizer and co-founder of Black Voters Matter, believes there needs to be a new approach to creating change. She admires former President Obama for his background as a community organizer but now sees him as too focused on the Constitution in a time that calls for more radical solutions. Brown is tired of being told to wait, vote, and prove loyalty to the country, and believes it's time for a change. The divide seen among liberals now could indicate future disagreements within the political left. In the upcoming years, the search for a successor to Obama as the unifying figure of the Democratic Party will involve debates on the best approach to oppose Trump, with the tone being just as important as policy or ideology. Some potential Democratic presidential candidates for 2020 have already drawn attention for their aggressive anti-Trump rhetoric, such as Joe Biden vowing to "beat the hell" out of Trump and Eric Holder suggesting a more aggressive approach than Michelle Obama's famous line. "This is the focus of the new Democratic Party," Obama often includes appeals to conservatives in his speeches, and in Milwaukee he alternated between criticizing the modern Republican Party and reaching out to what he referred to as "compassionate conservatives" who are interested in forming a coalition. However, the next generation of Democrats may choose to adopt a more unwavering tone instead of vacillating. In the midst of a recent surge in political violence, two progressive Democrats have stood out for their strong language: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "Imagine if it was ISIS that sent bombs to US officials, started shooting in grocery stores, and invading places of worship. How do you think this administration would respond?" Tlaib took it a step further. In a tweet, she criticized blaming the Pittsburgh shooting on #TreeOfLifeSynagogue members as lacking leadership and compassion to be POTUS. She mentioned the terrorist using an AR-15 assault rifle to kill Americans and stressed the importance of decency and not using fear as a motivator. Michelle Obama defended her "going high" mantra and emphasized the need for leaders to appeal to people's better nature. Valerie Jarrett, a close adviser to Obama, acknowledged the frustration among Democrats during Trump's administration and highlighted the importance of maintaining a consistent message. Jarrett stated that despite the challenges, it is necessary for the president to continue appealing to people's better instincts. You convey to them the important message you believe they need to hear, which is what leadership is all about, according to some of Obama's supporters who agreed with Jarrett. Kasey Dean, 28, who attended Obama's rally in Nevada last week, emphasized the responsibility of politicians to uplift the country during uncertain times rather than instilling fear. Hallie Sebena, 34, who witnessed Obama's rally in Milwaukee, stated that there are ways to resist without resorting to dirty tactics. Sebena stressed the importance of starting conversations with civility. Some liberal voters admitted that Trump's administration had incited such anger in them that it had altered their criteria for a Democratic messenger. Tom Mooshegian, 64, suggested that the person who runs against Trump in 2020 will need to be more of a "fighter" to match his style. Dana Williams, 41, waiting for Obama in Las Vegas, believed that Trump's politics prioritize personal attacks, and Democrats may need to respond with a similar approach. She quoted Trump's phrase, "When they go low, we got to go hard," and expressed concern that people in high offices may not understand the urgency of the current moment. Obama has been advocating for a hopeful, civil, and incremental approach to politics in his speeches this summer, without publicly responding to comments made by Holder. Obama emphasized that the importance of the upcoming election goes beyond just politics during his recent speech in Milwaukee. He highlighted the need for a political system that is honorable, truthful, and lawful, and that prioritizes the well-being of the American people. After staying away from politics for over a year, Obama has now directed his attention to states where Democrats are in crucial Senate races. He also tends to host rallies in urban areas where voters who historically have lower turnout in midterm elections, such as young people and minorities, reside. Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for Obama who now leads a liberal media company, stated that the former president's stance has developed on important issues like voter suppression and structural racism. According to Favreau, the Republican Party has become more directly linked to white identity politics and reducing immigration, prompting Obama to be more direct in his criticisms. By doing so, he has shown a way for Democratic candidates to critique without resorting to negative campaigning. Favreau mentioned campaigns like Gillum's in Florida, Abrams' in Georgia, and O'Rourke's in Texas as the next generation and evolution of Obama's message of hope. Favreau emphasized that simply attacking Donald Trump and Republicans with insults is not enough, and a more comprehensive approach is needed. "What voters desire is individuals who will advocate for important causes."