US Vice-President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris joined forces with former US First Lady Michelle Obama at a rally held at the Wings Event Centre in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on October 26. – AFP
Republican Donald Trump sought the support of Muslim voters in Michigan on Saturday, while Michelle Obama delivered a passionate speech on behalf of Kamala Harris at the Democrat's rally in the crucial state. In Michigan, Harris and Trump are vying for the votes of Arab American and Muslim communities concerned about Israel's attacks on Gaza, as well as union workers anxious about the potential transformation of the U.S. auto industry, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan's largest city. Election Day is set for November 5, but early voting has already commenced in Michigan and several other states.
Speaking at a rally outside Detroit, Trump highlighted his recent meeting with local imams, asserting that he deserved the backing of Muslim voters due to his commitment to ending conflicts and fostering peace in the Middle East. "That's all they want," Trump stated in the Detroit suburb of Novi, also promising auto workers that he would reverse economic decline in the Detroit area and across the nation. Trump fully supports Israel but has not specified how he would resolve the ongoing conflict. Despite this, Trump seems to be gaining traction among some Muslim Americans who are dissatisfied with President Joe Biden's and Harris' support for Israel, despite Trump's initial ban on immigration from certain Muslim-majority countries during his first term.
Imam Belal Alzuhairi of the Islamic Center of Detroit joined Trump on stage, urging Muslims to support President Trump because he promises peace. With approximately 8.4 million registered voters and 15 electoral college votes needed to secure victory, Michigan is one of seven competitive U.S. states that will determine the election outcome. It is part of the "Blue Wall" considered crucial for Democrats' chances of electing Harris, alongside Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
In the southern Michigan city of Kalamazoo, about 130 miles (210 km) away, Harris contrasted her policies with Trump's on issues such as abortion rights, taxes, and healthcare. However, it was Michelle Obama who initially energized the crowd by contrasting the personal character and qualifications of the two candidates, noting a double standard in their treatment. "I hope you'll forgive me that I'm a little frustrated that some of us are choosing to ignore Trump's gross incompetence while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn," the former First Lady said, encouraging undecided voters to "snap out of whatever fog they're in."
Obama also extensively addressed women's health, criticizing Trump's lack of understanding and his pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would impact "the entirety of women's health, all of it." "We as women will become collateral damage to your rage," she said before introducing Harris to the enthusiastic crowd. Harris' speech was briefly interrupted by a protester shouting, "No more Gaza war." After the interruption was quelled, Harris reiterated the need to end the conflict in Gaza and urged voters to "turn the page on the fear and the divisiveness."
Ahead of the rally, Harris met with women medical providers in Portage, Michigan, where she discussed the healthcare crisis following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Harris heard from six women medical providers who detailed the influx of patients from other regions due to the lack of reproductive healthcare in their areas since Roe was overturned. After leaving Michigan, Trump traveled to Pennsylvania, where he attempted to appeal to young voters with a rally at Penn State University, even bringing the school's wrestling team on stage.
Recent polls show a tight race, with Harris leading Trump nationally by a slim margin of 46% to 43%, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. In Michigan, Harris leads by an even narrower margin of 47.6% to 47.1%, according to opinion poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight. Since the 2020 election, Michigan has introduced early in-person voting for the first time and allowed jurisdictions with more than 5,000 people to process and tabulate mail ballots eight days before Election Day. As of Friday, 19.5% of registered voters in Michigan, or nearly 1.42 million people, have voted, with only 10,900 casting in-person early votes, while the rest returned absentee ballots.
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