Toles-Bey, a 62-year-old small-business owner, voted for the former president twice, despite never previously participating in elections. He is now deeply involved in politics, thanks to Obama's influence. After Obama left office, Toles-Bey started a T-shirt company called You Can't Trump God in response to President Trump's election, which caused him emotional distress that only religion could alleviate. However, while waiting outside one of Obama's recent rallies, Toles-Bey expressed doubts about whether Obama's idealism could thrive in today's highly polarized political environment. "It's a different world we're living in," Toles-Bey remarked. As Obama travels the country in support of Democratic candidates, there is growing concern among some of the coalition that helped him become America's first black president that a change is needed. Despite Obama's focus on themes of idealism and hope in his speeches, some supporters are questioning if his rhetoric is still relevant in today's political climate marked by domestic terrorism leading up to the 2018 elections. The New York Times reports that Obama remains a key campaigner for Democratic candidates, such as Gillum, Abrams, and Donnelly, during the final week of the campaign. However, his advisers acknowledge that Trump's election has challenged Obama's approach to change and may have disillusioned some of his supporters. Despite this, Obama's team believes that resisting Trump and motivating voters are not mutually exclusive, as seen in his recent speeches criticizing the president without mentioning him by name. However, like Toles-Bey, there are some Obama supporters who now prefer a more aggressive approach rather than a friendly one, as the new generation of progressives are increasingly pushing back against Trump. Older generations have traditionally dictated how politics should work, but younger individuals like Gabriella Lorance, who saw Obama in Milwaukee with her friends, are challenging this notion. 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 that a new approach is needed to create change. She expressed her respect for former President Obama, but emphasized the need for more radical action in today's political climate. Brown is tired of being told to wait, vote, and prove loyalty to the country, and believes it is time for a change. This divide among liberals could lead to future conflicts. In the upcoming years, the search for a successor to Obama as the unifying face of the Democratic Party will be a key focus for voters. The tone used to oppose Trump will be just as important as policy and ideology. Various potential Democratic presidential candidates for 2020 have made headlines for their strong anti-Trump rhetoric. Former Vice President Joe Biden, for example, stated he would physically fight Trump (but later apologized), and lawyer Michael Avenatti challenged a member of Trump's family to a physical altercation. Eric Holder, a former attorney general considering a presidential run, received criticism for his darker interpretation of Michelle Obama's famous quote, saying, "When they go low, we kick them." “This is the focus of the new Democratic Party,” Obama frequently mentions conservatives in his speeches, shifting between criticizing the current Republican Party and reaching out to what he refers to as "compassionate conservatives" who wish to form a coalition. However, the upcoming generation of Democrats may skip this back and forth approach in favor of a more assertive stance. In the wake of recent political violence, two progressive Democrats, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, emerged as strong voices with their bold statements. 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 went even further in her remarks. In a tweet, she criticized Trump for blaming the Pittsburgh shooting on #TreeOfLifeSynagogue members, stating it showed his lack of leadership and compassion as POTUS. She emphasized that the terrorist used an AR-15 assault rifle to kill fellow Americans, stressing that they deserved better treatment. Michelle Obama defended her belief in taking the high road and emphasized the importance of leaders displaying decency and not using fear as a motivator. Valerie Jarrett, a close adviser to Obama, acknowledged the frustration among Democrats during Trump's administration and stated that it might be challenging for the president to appeal to people's better nature during this political climate, but it was still necessary. Jarrett highlighted that Obama's message had remained consistent and that giving people what they want to hear in the moment was not the most important factor. You convey to them the message you believe is important for them to hear, that is what leadership entails. Some of Obama's supporters concurred with Jarrett. Kasey Dean, 28, who waited for Obama at his rally in Nevada last week, expressed that it was the responsibility of politicians to inspire the country in times of uncertainty rather than instilling fear. Hallie Sebena, 34, who attended Obama's rally in Milwaukee, mentioned that there are ways to retaliate without resorting to unethical tactics. "We need discussions that originate from a foundation of respect," Sebena stated. Other progressive voters mentioned that they had been so angered by Trump's administration that it altered their criteria for 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" to match his style. Dana Williams, 41, waiting for Obama in Las Vegas, believes Trump has prioritized personal attacks in politics and Democrats may need to respond in kind. Brown echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to be aggressive when facing Trump's tactics. Obama has been advocating for a more hopeful, civil, and incrementally progressive approach in his speeches this summer. Obama stated in Milwaukee last week that the upcoming election is about more than just politics. He emphasized the importance of decency, honesty, and legality in politics, as well as the need to do right by the American people. After staying away from the political scene for over a year, Obama has now been concentrating on supporting Democratic candidates in states where key Senate races are taking place. He also tends to host rallies in urban areas where voters who historically do not vote in midterm elections, such as young people and minorities, reside. 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 closely associated with white identity politics and reducing immigration, prompting Obama to be more direct in his criticisms. This has provided a blueprint for Democratic candidates to criticize without resorting to negative campaigning. Favreau highlighted campaigns like Gillum's in Florida, Abrams' in Georgia, and O'Rourke's in Texas as carrying on 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 are looking for are individuals who will advocate for important issues." - © 2018 New York Times News Service.