The Note: Tar Heel Tangle

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July 5, 2016

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Tar Heel Tangle

Obama, Clinton Take to the Trail

Hillary Clinton will campaign with a familiar figure today as President Obama joins her on the trail. President Obama endorsed Clinton on June 9, but their initial joint campaign appearance was rescheduled in the wake of the Orlando nightclub attack. Now the pair will hit the trail together today in Charlotte, North Carolina. The duo will "discuss building on the progress we've made and their vision for an America that is stronger together," a campaign press release stated. Meanwhile, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump holds his own rally in the Tar Heel State accompanied by Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, one of the GOP candidate's running mate prospects. ABC's MEGHAN KENEALLY has more: http://abcn.ws/29iMFli

By the Numbers

A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll reported that 56 percent of overall respondents approved of President Obama's job performance. The approval rating for Obama goes up dramatically among Democrats -- to 88 percent, dips to 50 percent among independents, and plunges to 18 percent among Republicans.

Analysis -- ABC's Rick Klein

In this year of outsiders, Hillary Clinton gets some help Tuesday from the ultimate insider. The calculation in employing President Obama is easy, particularly as the president's approval rating seems to rise in reaction to the year of Donald Trump. But as Trump demonstrates just about daily, the easiest calls can have the least predictable consequences. The teamwork plays into a core Trump theme – one with particular resonance as the FBI investigation into Clinton's email system winds down. The fix is in, Trump will argue, pointing to campaign trips aboard Air Force One and the ill-advised tarmac meeting between former President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Loretta Lynch as exhibits A and B. Having high-profile surrogates at the ready is a good problem to have – and a problem Trump very much does not have. But it can't be forgotten that coziness comes with consequences in 2016.