Politics are always local, as clearly illustrated by the activities at the Flint Farmers’ Market. This bustling hub of community activity is a rare success story in a city still reeling from post-industrial decline, a common tale across America’s Rust Belt. The market gathers a collection of boutique food outlets and local artisans, drawing attendees from all over the area.
This busy scene received an injection of political energy last Thursday when a campaign vehicle manned by Harris-Walz arrived at the venue. Awaiting it was an expectant crowd that hoped to see Michigan’s Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, make her appearance. Often touted as a rising phenomenon within the Democratic Party, and a potential replacement for President Biden during the tumultuous July period when calls for him to relinquish the presidency became more insistent, Whitmer has, in many respects, become the face of Michigan.
However, recent events served as a reminder that traversing the political landscape isn’t without its pitfalls, even for polished performers. Whitmer faced the echoing effects of a video clip that spread like wildfire across social media. The video, showing her laying a Dorito chip on an influencer’s tongue, was immediately seized upon as a parody of the Catholic Eucharist ritual. Before the intention behind such a bizarre act could be questioned, and why a governor might choose to deliberately slight a significant portion of her voter base, protests sprung up around her abode while Michigan’s Catholic bishops issued a reprimand. Their statement underscored that the video was offensive, irrespective of its potential intentions.
In response, Whitmer offered a public apology earlier this week. Following 25 years in the public sphere, she assured that she would never knowingly scorn someone’s religion. Explaining that the controversial video meant to highlight the importance of the Chips Act, and its role in fostering computer chip production jobs in Michigan, she voiced regret about the unintended interpretations of the video.
This Tuesday marked her endorsement of two legislation pieces set to empower the approximated 35,000 caretaker professionals in Michigan to form a union. On Thursday, she was back on the campaign trail, mirroring old-school 70s political journies. Besides, she wasn’t alone on this trip. Alongside her was Wisconsin’s Governor, Tony Evers. When ordering a smoothie at the farmers’ market and warmly welcoming the residents of Flint, Pennsylvanian Governor, Josh Shapiro arrived and shared a warm embrace with her. For the regular Thursday market-goers, it was a thrilling display of the Democrats’ luminaries at work, a spectacle with a definite objective.
Whitmer proposed a tour through Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, each with extraordinarily tight poll results, to energise party volunteers and activists as the final weeks of the campaign approach.
Upon entering the premises, all three state leaders headed straight towards Democratic Representative Dan Kildee, poised to retire from politics this year following an extensive career that began when he was elected to Flint’s local council at 18.
Confusion has arisen amongst attendees questioning the unison of the three governors, according to Whitmer speaking at the Democratic assembly with supporters and volunteers. The reason being that the election will likely be influenced heavily by a select few states, notably these three states. Hence, the significance of their collaborative efforts over the subsequent 19 days will be felt more than ever before.
The immense pressure on these three figureheads became evident as they collectively engaged and stimulated the audience, highlighting their responsibility to maintain the existing political landscape in areas previously considered Democratic strongholds.
In 2016, Donald Trump emerged as the first Republican victor in Wisconsin since Ronald Reagan’s 1984 victory, only for Joe Biden to regain it by a slim margin in 2020. Despite Trump’s success in Michigan in 2016, it was an outlier as the only Republican triumph in the state since George Bush’s 1988 win.
The political climate in Pennsylvania is equally tense, with Harris clinging to a marginal lead that fluctuates from week to week. Harris currently holds a scant 0.7 percentage point lead over Trump in Michigan according to the polling site FiveThirtyEight.
Shapiro, a likely Vice-Presidential nominee for Harris after Biden’s uncontested candidacy, voiced his support for Harris at the intimate gathering.
“The distinction is stark in styles of leadership. A leader who strives to restore the joy of politics, taking into account the interests of everyone, regardless of who they love or worship; a leader endeavouring to uplift every American. Meanwhile, there is also a man, the Republican presidential candidate, who has criticised one of America’s finest cities, Detroit. Governor Evers is aware of this, for before the convention, he targeted another excellent city – Milwaukee. I must say, his continual disparagement of Philadelphia is exhausting.
Consider this , an individual desiring to guide the world’s most powerful nation is constantly criticising his compatriots. We are a formidable country. We are producing unprecedented amounts of energy, fortifying our economy and our national security. For the first time in years, we are combating China effectively. More Americans are employed now than ever before. The greatest country in the world is the US. Donald Trump needs to desist from belittling America and its people and begin empowering them.”
Shapiro will keep delivering this powerful and engaging narrative until November 5th. This narrative is expected to find favour with voters in the renowned “Blue Wall”, the moniker given to the three states Democratic strategists believed they had secured before Trump transformed into a Republican sensation.
The harrowing recollections of 2016, when Hillary Clinton’s attractive lead in the polls vanishing at the ballot box, incites anxiety in mid-October.
Kamala Harris has focused her efforts by conducting rallies and interviews at a relentless pace in all three states, climaxing with a proposed rally in Detroit on Saturday evening, just a day after her opposition’s scheduled rally in the same city. Future weeks are expected to witness more visits to these three states as the clock counts down and the tension escalates.
“It’s all about us,” Governor Evers remarked.
“It would be unthinkable for us not to triumph,” the speaker asserted, “especially given the considerable importance of those three particular states. Every one of our 320 million countrymen are banking on us, the occupants of this room.”
This solemn admission created a poignant atmosphere amidst the jocular midday gathering. As the democratic leaders of these states, they felt an unprecedented degree of stress and responsibility, tasked with maintaining the precarious concept of the ‘blue wall’.