Barack Obama urged young people to seize their chance to shape history for the better on a last-minute stop in Michigan during a final day of campaign speeches.
The outgoing president, who has been sent to areas where Hillary Clinton’s edge appears to be waning, implored students to trust him.
He said: “You don’t just have to vote against something, you actually have somebody that’s worthy of your vote.”
President Obama described the Democratic nominee as “probably the most qualified person to ever run for this office”.
“I know Hillary,” he declared. “She’s someone who has dedicated her life to making this country better.
“She will be smart, she will be steady … She will make sure to keep America strong and respected.”
In contrast, the president said Donald Trump was “not temperamentally fit” to take on the role.
But he warned he expected the race to be close in Michigan, an 11th-hour battleground state.
President Obama, who was introduced at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor by Chelsea Clinton, insisted the most important word in America’s democracy is “we”.
He added: “The most important office in a democracy is not the presidency, it’s not senators, congressmen, mayor; it’s the office of citizen. The most powerful word in our democracy is we. We the people, we shall overcome.”
To shouts of “yes we can” he continued: “America is not about what one person can do for you…I didn’t say yes I can, I said yes we can.
“That’s what this country relies on – you caring enough about it to get involved, even when the odds are steep, even when the world is wrong. That’s our history.
“In this country you don’t have to be born to wealth and privilege to make a difference.
“That’s what makes America exceptional. All of us equal, all of us having a voice, all of us making a claim on the American Dream, all of us fulfilling our responsibilities and not just enjoying the rights of this incredible nation, this amazing experiment in self government. That’s what it’s about.
“So whatever credibility I have earned after eight years as president, I am asking you to trust me on this.
“This is a moment in your life when you know you can make a difference. It’s not often you have the chance to move history in a better direction.
“This is one of those moments. Don’t let it slip away. You have the chance to reject a course of mean spirited politics that would take us backwards.
“You have the chance to elect our first female president. It’s in your hands.
“You will choose whether we continue this journey of progress or whether it all goes out the window.
“You get to choose between a politics of blame and divisiveness or a politics that says we are all stronger together.
Turning to Mr Trump, Obama rejected the notion he’s a “champion for working families”.
“For all his tough talk about China, he uses Chinese steel in his hotels,” he added.
“Donald Trump is not the guy who is going to look out for you.
“Do not be bamboozled, don’t fall for the ‘okey dokey’.
“In his 70 years on earth, the Donald has never shown any regard for working folks, I don’t think he knows working people.
“It’s bad being arrogant when you know what you are talking about. But it’s really bad being arrogant when you don’t know what you are talking about.”
To big cheers, he said Mr Trump was “uniquely unqualified to hold the job”, adding: “Good news Michigan, you are uniquely qualified to make sure he does not get that job.”