Last Days on the Road with Obama by Brooks Kraft

2 minute read

After months of nearly non-stop campaigning, President Obama and his team have spent the last two weeks crisscrossing the country to make their final appeals to voters. Veteran political photographer Brooks Kraft has been there to document the campaign’s final days.

This was the eighth presidential campaign that Kraft has photographed, and his sixth for TIME. Over the years, he has honed his approach to shooting some of the most photographed men and women in the United States. Kraft rarely takes his pictures from the press platforms, preferring to move around, searching out unique angles and small details.

“I attempt to work around all the messaging and clutter surrounding the candidate, to take photographs that reflect the character of the campaign,” he told TIME.

These photographs, many shot in so-called ‘battleground’ states, capture the energy and exhaustion of a campaign winding down. Kraft captures both the quiet details—from Secret Service agents on a distant roof to a close-up of a pink breast cancer awareness bracelet on the President’s wrist — and the dramatic moments — ecstatic crowds pressing toward the stage and the President silhouetted against spotlights as he speaks.

Shooting politics for so many years has allowed Kraft to make iconic pictures that transcend the obvious. “Shooting campaigns requires patience and persistence,” he said. “It can take many days of long travel to find images that can last beyond the daily news cycle.”

Brooks Kraft is a Washington D.C.-based photographer.

Image: Nov. 6, 2012. First Lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden at the President's election night victory party in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. First Lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden at the President's election night victory party in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama smiles through a storm of confetti at his election night victory party in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama smiles through a storm of confetti at his election night victory party in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 6, 2012. Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama celebrate his victory at his election night rally in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama celebrate his victory at his election night rally in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama speaks to his supporters at his election night victory party in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama speaks to his supporters at his election night victory party in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama points to someone in the crowd at his election night victory party in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama points to someone in the crowd at his election night victory party in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by their families, at the President's election night victory party in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by their families, at the President's election night victory party in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama walks toward the podium with First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters to meet Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, at the President's election night victory party in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama walks toward the podium with First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters to meet Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, at the President's election night victory party in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 6, 2012. A large group of media wait for Obama before his election night rally in Chicago.
Nov. 6, 2012. A large group of media wait for Obama before his election night rally in Chicago.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 5, 2012. Obama hugs the first lady at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
Nov. 5, 2012. Obama hugs the first lady at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 5, 2012. President Barack Obama stands on stage with rapper Jay-Z and musician Bruce Springsteen at an election campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio.
Nov. 5, 2012. President Barack Obama stands on stage with rapper Jay-Z and musician Bruce Springsteen at an election campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 5, 2012. Musician Bruce Springsteen greets the First Lady after performing in Des Moines, Iowa.
Nov. 5, 2012. Musician Bruce Springsteen greets the First Lady after performing in Des Moines, Iowa.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 5, 2012. Secret Service agents hold the doors to Obama's limousine as he arrives in Des Moines, Iowa.
Nov. 5, 2012. Secret Service agents hold the doors to Obama's limousine as he arrives in Des Moines, Iowa.Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 3, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally at the Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio.
Nov. 3, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally at the Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 3, 2012. Members of the audience make an "O" during a campaign rally with President Obama in Mentor, Ohio. Nov. 3, 2012.
Nov. 3, 2012. Members of the audience make an "O" during a campaign rally with President Obama in Mentor, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Nov. 4, 2012. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets President Obama after introducing him at a campaign rally in Concord, N.H.
Nov. 4, 2012. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets President Obama after introducing him at a campaign rally in Concord, N.H. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Secret Service snipers watch on a rooftop as President Obama speaks at a campaign rally in Concord, N.H. Nov. 4, 2012.
Nov. 4, 2012. Secret Service snipers watch on a rooftop as President Obama speaks at a campaign rally in Concord, N.H. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: A supporter shows off his tee-shirt at a campaign event with President Obama in Hilliard, Ohio. Nov. 2, 2012.
Nov. 2, 2012. A supporter shows off his tee-shirt at a campaign event with President Obama in Hilliard, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 25, 2012. A member holds a curtain backstage before the arrival of U.S. President at a campaign rally in Tampa.
Oct. 25, 2012. A member holds a curtain backstage before the arrival of U.S. President at a campaign rally in Tampa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: President Obama attends a campaign event in Hilliard, Ohio. Nov. 2, 2012.
Nov. 2, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign event in Hilliard, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: President Obama attends a campaign event in Hilliard, Ohio. Nov. 2, 2012.
Nov. 2, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign event in Hilliard, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. Oct. 25, 2012.
Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Richmond.
Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Richmond, Va. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. Oct. 25, 2012.
Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 25, 2012. Supporters cheer on President Obama at a campaign rally in Cleveland.
Oct. 25, 2012. Supporters cheer on President Obama at a campaign rally in Cleveland. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: The podium, microphone and teleprompters of President Obama at a campaign rally in Cleveland. Oct. 25, 2012.
Oct. 25, 2012. The podium, microphone and teleprompters of President Obama at a campaign rally in Cleveland. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama arrives at a campaign rally in Cleveland.
Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama arrives at a campaign rally in Cleveland. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. He is wearing a pink bracelet in support of breast cancer awareness, an important issue with women voters.
Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. He is wearing a pink bracelet in support of breast cancer awareness, an important issue with women voters. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 25, 2012. U.S. President Barack Obama attends a campaign rally in Richmond, Va.
Oct. 25, 2012. U.S. President Barack Obama attends a campaign rally in Richmond, Va. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver.
Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 24, 2012. Supporters are shadowed on a wall as President Obama attends a campaign rally in Davenport, Iowa.
Oct. 24, 2012. Supporters are shadowed on a wall as President Obama attends a campaign rally in Davenport, Iowa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver.
Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver.
Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 23, 2012. Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio.
Oct. 23, 2012. Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME
Image: Oct. 23, 2012. President Obama is greeted by supporters during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio.
Oct. 23, 2012. President Obama is greeted by supporters during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME

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