In a tightly contested election campaign with just 17 days remaining, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are focusing their efforts on the pivotal state of Michigan. Both candidates have highlighted American manufacturing’s future and questioned each other’s qualifications for office. Their campaigns recently intersected in the Detroit suburbs, an area crucial to the upcoming presidential election. Early voting in Michigan, one of the key swing states, commenced on Saturday.
Vice President Harris addressed supporters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, criticizing Trump’s record on manufacturing jobs. She pointed out that while Trump claimed he would restore America’s manufacturing sector, nearly 200,000 such jobs were lost during his presidency, including many in Michigan. Grand Rapids, traditionally a Republican stronghold, has shifted towards Democratic support in recent elections and is considered a bellwether for the state’s overall political climate.
Donald Trump, at a separate event in Oakland County, engaged with small-business owners and police officers, discussing concerns about local economic conditions. During this economic roundtable, he emphasized plans to revive American industries and expressed optimism about future economic prospects. Oakland County, once a reliable Republican area, has favored Democrats since 1996. Harris’s campaign sees an opportunity to gain further support in this region, particularly among college-educated voters and women opposed to Trump.
During Trump’s rally in Detroit, the event encountered technical issues as his microphone stopped working, causing a delay. Once speech resumed, Trump promised a resurgence of American economic prosperity under his leadership, contrasting his outlook with previous commentary about Detroit. He had earlier suggested the nation could decline under Harris’s presidency, a statement that was not well-received locally.
In a separate public appearance in Lansing, Harris campaigned alongside union workers, detailing auto industry setbacks during Trump’s administration. She highlighted a Biden administration grant that preserved approximately 650 auto jobs in Lansing. Harris also noted disparaging remarks made by Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, who dismissed such grants as inconsequential. A video compilation presented by Harris featured Trump’s negative comments about the United Autoworkers.
The campaign exchanges also turned personal, with Harris criticizing Trump’s decision to avoid debates and insisting his actions raised doubts about his ability to handle presidential responsibilities. Trump countered, defending his stamina and questioning Harris’s intelligence. Harris asserted that despite Trump’s efforts, union workers were not among his priorities, emphasizing their importance to the labor movement.
