NEWARK - Heavy on devious "Hit the Road, Jack" accents, but overridden ultimately by a thunderous message of hard-edged hope at the core of the country's revolutionary spirit, Democrats this evening welcomed the 44th President back to New Jersey, Barack Obama, the same guy - wildly popular here in two general elections - whom Donald Trump tried to smear as not having been born in the United States of America.

"You've got a candidate for governor who's a proven fighter, and record of getting stuff done, somebody who sees you and knows your struggles and will work for you every single day," Obama said at this packed event. "New Jersey, it's time to point America in a brighter direction by appointing Mikie Sherrill your next governor."

The crowd loved it, loved Obama - and loved Sherrill.

"Our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now," Obama told Newark. "It's hard to know where to start because every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness... and just plain old craziness.

"He's fired decorated military officers because he thinks they may be more loyal to the Constitution than him. He's deployed the National Guard and claimed to be stopping crime waves that don't exist. Masked ICE agents are pulling people off the streets."

The former President went through a laundry list of Trump's making.

"I did warn you all. And you know what? Donald Trump told you too."

Obama confessed his worry about the future of the country, given Trump's impulses to crush the values at the heart of America, the hatefulness, cowardice, and selfishness.

But he said New Jerseyans can change the course of history.

"You can vote for Mikie Sherrill," Obama said. "You've got to vote for leaders like Mikie who care about your freedom and will fight for your rights. If you meet this moment, you will not just elect Mikie Sherrill the next governor, you will set a glorious example for this nation."

As for Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for Governor - he grades Donald Trump an "A" as President.

Obama and the other allies of Mikie Sherrill jumped up and down on that all night here in Brick City as New Jersey bears down on Tuesday, Nov. 4th. Election Day.

"It sure has gotten better for Trump and his family," said 44. "The economy has been really good for Trump's billionaire friends."

Costs have not gone down for ordinary Americans.

They've gone up, thanks to Trump's shambolic tariff policy.

Meanwhile, Trump bulldozes the East Wing to create a new ballroom for power.

And as for Ciattarelli, "He's spent more time kissing Donald Trump's ass than standing up for the people of New Jersey," Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), said of Ciattarelli. "When Trump attacks unions, Jack says nothing. When Trump threatens to cut funding for the Gateway Tunnel, Jack says it's not a New Jersey issue.

"Are you kidding me, Jack?"

An equally scandalized U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led the congressional delegation onstage at Essex County Community College.

"Every day we watch Republicans in congress show an advanced form of yoga to do everything Donald Trump wants them to do," Booker told the crowd. "Donald Trump has made himself and his family $5 billion in corrupt schemes. Meanwhile. he has attacked the bedrock programs working people have paid into and earned.

"I miss Obama - and her husband, too," the senior New Jersey senator cracked.

America-loving New Jerseyan Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" punctuated spaces between speakers.

So did a live band:

Having campaigned in the streets of Newark earlier today, Sherrill walked out onstage to Springsteen's "Born to Run."

"From the earliest days we have never shied away from a tough fight," she said, at one point waving to her parents in the audience. "We are waging a battle at this very moment for the future of our nation and New Jersey has always answered the call of our country and our values."

The Democratic nominee for governor reiterated her commitment to freeze utility costs.

"New Jersey, I'm not playing," she vowed. "I'm declaring a state of emergency on day one."

She added, in the middle of Trump's government shutdown:

"If he's not going to fund these programs - and make no mistake - we send $70 billion to Washington more than we get back, we're going to claw that money back and do it ourselves."

That got a big hand.

"New Jerseyans give me courage, and I'm sure the nation feels that way, too," Sherrill added.

Other speakers included Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, Democratic State Party Chairman LeRoy Jones, state senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and state Senator Vin Gopal (D-11).

"Get out there and vote and make sure you show them a little New Jersey attitude," said First Lady Murphy.

Added the Governor: "I'm going to tell you what Jack Ciattarelli would look like if Jack Ciattarelli were governor. First of all, he'd raise the sales tax to ten percent."

Someone dropped in the crowd.

"Medic!" Murphy cried.

The person evidently recovered.

"Not surprising," Murphy said. "I was starting to tell you what the state would look like if Jack were governor and somebody collapsed."

Via Fox News:

Dale Caldwell, Sherrill's running mate, in his time onstage highlighted his experience as an educator and pastor, defining his view of leadership as "compassion with accountability."

"We traveled to all 21 counties across New Jersey and we're going to be doing that through Election Day," Caldwell said. Ciattarelli, he added, "will never stand up for us." Jack's a Trump backer, he noted, in case anyone here had any doubt.

"Let's vote for Mikie Sherrill," added the LG candidate. "Let's fight for we the people and together let's take this country back and send a message to Trump that he has no influence in New Jersey."

From InsiderNJ Columnist Fred Snowflack, who's at the event:

NEWARK - Ras Baraka was the warm-up act, but he was on fire - rhetorically that is.

“This is what America looks like,” he roared, pointing to a diverse crowd of about 5,000 at Essex County Community College.

“Why am I here?” the mayor asked.

It was a real question. After all, Baraka ran in the June primary and finished second to Mikie Sherrill.

He then answered his own question

Baraka said he had no choice but to fight for Sherrill and against Donald Trump.

“We can’t go back with Jack,” he practically screamed as the crowd joined in.

To keep the crowd’s passion high, Baraka was followed by the high-spirited Weequahic High School band.

All that is fine, but the crowd eagerly awaits Barack Obama.