Vice President Kamala Harris addressed concerns over former President Donald Trump at a recent rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During the event, she warned that Trump would “claim unchecked and extreme power” if reelected, referencing his past remarks regarding the “termination” of the Constitution following his unsuccessful attempt to contest the 2020 election results.
Despite the supportive crowd, some Democrats expressed apprehension that Harris’s fixation on Trump might not resonate well with undecided voters. “I don’t see us moving anyone over with that message,” stated Karen Lancendorfer, a Democrat from Portage who attended the rally alongside Michelle Obama. She cautioned against a negative messaging strategy, asserting that it could alienate independent voters who may shy away from pessimism.
Concerns among activists across Michigan have amplified, particularly as Republicans launch aggressive campaigns focusing on economic issues and crime while criticizing Harris for not distancing herself from President Joe Biden. The prevailing sentiment is that framing Trump as a threat to democracy, while an attempt to draw in independent and disaffected Republican voters, might fall short when it comes to energizing less-engaged Democratic voters.
Carly Hammond, a Democratic organizer from Saginaw, expressed discontent regarding the approach, stating, “We’re going to shame people by saying ‘how dare you stay home and let Donald Trump get elected’ rather than give people a reason to get off their couches to vote.”
In the wake of focusing heavily on Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, Harris’s campaign has begun pivoting back to pressing issues such as abortion rights and economic stability. Last Friday, she held a substantial rally in Texas that centered on the implications Trump poses to abortion rights. This was followed by Obama’s outreach to men regarding the same issue during their joint event in Kalamazoo, where Harris also highlighted vital economic topics like housing costs and price gouging.
In response to activists’ feedback regarding her messaging on Trump, Harris’s campaign emphasized her extensive focus on economic issues during her trips to Michigan. On Monday, she visited a semiconductor plant in Saginaw that is earmarked to receive $325 million in subsidies from the CHIPS and Science Act, where she underscored her commitment to domestic manufacturing and criticized Trump for threatening to undo the Biden administration’s significant legislation.
“On every single trip the vice president has made to Michigan, she has been laser-focused on manufacturing, strengthening the economy and lowering costs,” stated Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), as expressed in a statement shared by the campaign to POLITICO.
However, during canvassing efforts in a quiet neighborhood in Bloomfield Hills, some Democratic activists, including Marcie Paul and Emily Feinstein, discovered that there is still work ahead for Harris in this regard. Several voters voiced their apprehensions about economic matters. One auto-industry worker mentioned that, although he wouldn’t vote for Trump again after January 6, he remains undecided for this election cycle, seeking more clarity on business policies from the candidates. Another voter highlighted that while she supports Harris mainly due to reproductive rights, she feels incapable of swaying her husband, who prioritizes business issues.
Plain Text Version:
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed concerns over former President Donald Trump at a recent rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During the event, she warned that Trump would “claim unchecked and extreme power” if reelected, referencing his past remarks regarding the “termination” of the Constitution following his unsuccessful attempt to contest the 2020 election results.
Despite the supportive crowd, some Democrats expressed apprehension that Harris’s fixation on Trump might not resonate well with undecided voters. “I don’t see us moving anyone over with that message,” stated Karen Lancendorfer, a Democrat from Portage who attended the rally alongside Michelle Obama. She cautioned against a negative messaging strategy, asserting that it could alienate independent voters who may shy away from pessimism.
Concerns among activists across Michigan have amplified, particularly as Republicans launch aggressive campaigns focusing on economic issues and crime while criticizing Harris for not distancing herself from President Joe Biden. The prevailing sentiment is that framing Trump as a threat to democracy, while an attempt to draw in independent and disaffected Republican voters, might fall short when it comes to energizing less-engaged Democratic voters.
Carly Hammond, a Democratic organizer from Saginaw, expressed discontent regarding the approach, stating, “We’re going to shame people by saying ‘how dare you stay home and let Donald Trump get elected’ rather than give people a reason to get off their couches to vote.”
In the wake of focusing heavily on Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, Harris’s campaign has begun pivoting back to pressing issues such as abortion rights and economic stability. Last Friday, she held a substantial rally in Texas that centered on the implications Trump poses to abortion rights. This was followed by Obama’s outreach to men regarding the same issue during their joint event in Kalamazoo, where Harris also highlighted vital economic topics like housing costs and price gouging.
In response to activists’ feedback regarding her messaging on Trump, Harris’s campaign emphasized her extensive focus on economic issues during her trips to Michigan. On Monday, she visited a semiconductor plant in Saginaw that is earmarked to receive $325 million in subsidies from the CHIPS and Science Act, where she underscored her commitment to domestic manufacturing and criticized Trump for threatening to undo the Biden administration’s significant legislation.
“On every single trip the vice president has made to Michigan, she has been laser-focused on manufacturing, strengthening the economy and lowering costs,” stated Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), as expressed in a statement shared by the campaign to POLITICO.
However, during canvassing efforts in a quiet neighborhood in Bloomfield Hills, some Democratic activists, including Marcie Paul and Emily Feinstein, discovered that there is still work ahead for Harris in this regard. Several voters voiced their apprehensions about economic matters. One auto-industry worker mentioned that, although he wouldn’t vote for Trump again after January 6, he remains undecided for this election cycle, seeking more clarity on business policies from the candidates. Another voter highlighted that while she supports Harris mainly due to reproductive rights, she feels incapable of swaying her husband, who prioritizes business issues.