by Vice President Kamala Harris joined singer Lizzo in Detroit on Saturday (Oct. 19), kicking off in-person voting and praising the city after recent criticism from Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“All the best things were made in Detroit: Coney Dogs, Faygo, and Lizzo,” the Grammy-winning singer joked to a cheering crowd. She emphasized her pride for the city and encouraged early voting, calling it a “power move.”
Trump recently disparaged Detroit during his campaign stop, prompting Lizzo and Harris to rally support for the city. Harris, wearing a “Detroit vs. Everybody” T-shirt, continued the theme, declaring, “Like the people of Detroit, we have grit, we have excellence, we have history.”
More than 1 million Michigan residents have already voted by mail for the upcoming Nov. 5 election, and Harris predicted strong turnout for early voting in Detroit. “We’re going to break some records here in Detroit today,” she said.
Harris also criticized Trump, calling him “unstable” and urging voters to pay attention to his rallies if they were uncertain about their vote. “We’re not going to get these 17 days back. On Election Day, we don’t want to have any regrets,” Harris said.
Lizzo echoed the sentiment, telling the crowd, “Mrs. Commander-in-Chief has a nice ring to it,” and added, “If you ask me if America is ready for its first woman president, I only have one thing to say: It’s about damn time!”
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley responded, claiming Harris needed Lizzo’s star power to distract from the economic gains made under Trump’s administration, including higher wages and lower prices.
Talona Johnson, a Michigan resident at the rally, voiced her support for Harris, saying, “She’s trying to help the people. I don’t necessarily agree with everything, but she’s better than the alternative.” Women’s rights were Johnson’s top concern, influencing her vote.
Harris, addressing reporters before the rally, emphasized Detroit’s importance in the election and praised its hardworking residents. When asked about the Biden administration’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict potentially impacting her support in Michigan’s Arab-American community, Harris acknowledged the complexity of Middle East policy, saying, “It has never been easy, but that doesn’t mean we give up.”
Later on Saturday, Harris is scheduled to rally in Atlanta with Usher as early voting continues in Georgia, where over 1.2 million ballots have already been cast.
As the 2024 election nears, Harris is focusing on mobilizing key voters in battleground states like Michigan and Georgia, where turnout will be critical in her race against Trump.
Nice one