Obama, Eminem rally Detroit to supercharge Michigan vote for Kamala Harris
- Former President Barack Obama made a stop in Detroit Tuesday evening for the Harris-Waltz campaign
- He encouraged the crowd to vote, noting early in-person voting in Detroit began Saturday and for the entire state Oct. 26.
- Obama’s appearance highlights the tight race for Michigan’s critical electoral votes
DETROIT — Former President Barack Obama rallied a huge crowd in Detroit Tuesday evening on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, driving home the importance of voting in what’s expected to be a very close election.
“Whether this election is making you feel excited or scared or hopeful or frustrated or anything in between, do not sit back and hope for the best … get off your couch and vote,” Obama said in a speech at the Huntington Place convention center in downtown Detroit, his latest in a series of swing state rallies for Harris.
Obama’s visit came on the fourth day of early in-person voting in Detroit, a longtime Democratic stronghold where Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been wooing Black voters ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
The downtown Detroit convention center was one of the most memorable sites of the 2020 presidential election, with supporters of Donald Trump protesting the counting of ballots that didn’t finish until about 24 hours after voting ended. On Tuesday, the center was brimming with Democrats hoping they can once again deny Trump the swing state’s critical electoral votes.
Among the speakers were Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the state’s two Democratic Senators, Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who is running to replace the retiring Stabenow.
“In Congress, she’s been working on the issues that matter to you like bringing down the costs of prescription drugs, bringing supply chains back to the U.S., and creating good jobs right here in Michigan,” Obama said of Slotkin, encouraging the about 12,000 attendees to vote for her. “This is the kind of person we need in Washington because presidents can’t do it alone.”
An eminem introduction
Michigan, once again a key battleground in the presidential election, has become a popular stop for the Democrat and Republican nominees and high-octane surrogates like Obama.
Obama was introduced by Detroit music star Eminem, who threw his support to Harris.
“I don't think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution of what people will do if you make your opinion known,” said the rapper. “I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
Former Detroit Lions star Calvin “Megatron” Johnson also spoke at the rally.
Obama called out Trump's economic plan, arguing that Trump’s go-to is to blame immigrants.
“Instead of giving more tax cuts to billionaires, raising prices on working families, Kamala is going to give a tax cut to people who need it, 100 million working-class people here in America,” he said.
Republicans criticized the visit by Obama, suggesting it shows desperation by the Harris campaign.
“You know things aren’t going well for Democrats when they have to fly in Barack Obama from his $12 million Martha’s Vineyard estate and his ‘high eight-figure’ Netflix production deal to campaign for Kamala Harris during the homestretch," Michigan GOP spokesperson Victoria LaCivita said in a statement.
Down to the wire
Recent polling suggests the presidential race remains a toss-up in Michigan with two weeks until the election.
Former first lady Michelle Obama will also hit the campaign trail in Michigan with Harris in the final weeks leading up to the election. She is expected to join Harris for a “get out the vote” event in Michigan on Saturday, the Harris campaign confirmed.
Trump spoke Friday in Oakland County and Detroit, where he encouraged voters to “get the hell out there” and cast early ballots and argued that Harris would “reduce your future to rubble.” He’ll be in Traverse City on Friday and Oakland County on Saturday.
Related:
- Trump, Harris target Detroit as early in-person voting begins
- Michigan elections FAQ: Where Trump, Harris stand on economy and taxes
- Harris, Trump ramp up fight for Michigan in final weeks of campaign
Harris was in Detroit twice last week, first for a Tuesday interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God, and again on Friday for a rally. She also recently visited Grand Rapids, Lansing and Royal Oak, where she was joined Monday by Republican former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney.
“We are so optimistic about our new generation of leadership for America and what we will do together,” Harris said during her Friday rally in Detroit, where she wore a ‘Detroit vs Everybody” t-shirt. “(It) is about investing in working people, in middle-class people, in our children.”
Harris recently rolled out an economic plan for Black men which includes providing $1 million in loans to entrepreneurs, education and job training, and a National Health Equity Initiative to address sickle cell disease, diabetes and other health disparities that disproportionately impact Black men.
Obama called out Black men to a small group of reporters when he was campaigning in Pennsylvania earlier this month, saying the lack of energy for Harris’ campaign among Black men was “not acceptable.”
“You’re thinking about sitting out or even supporting somebody (in former president Donald Trump) who has a history of denigrating you, because you think that’s a sign of strength, because that’s what being a man is? Putting women down?” Obama said to a small group in Pittsburg.
Polling suggests Black voters will back Harris by wide margins, but Trump has made significant inroads that could help him statewide. Harris has struggled with male voters, in general.
Prices ‘still too high’
The economy is a top concern for voters on both ends of the political spectrum as the rising costs of goods continue to impact Americans.
“Wages are steadily growing, inflation is slowing but the price of everything from healthcare to housing to groceries is still too high, and that hurts,” Obama said.
“They (Harris and Waltz) can see you and relate to you because they’ve lived like you have and they understand that too many folks in Michigan and across the country are still struggling to pay the bills.”
Inflation spiked in 2021 and 2022, driving up the cost of goods, but has since fallen. The 2.4% inflation rate in September was the lowest since February 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The median household income rose 4% from $77,540 in 2022 to $80,610 in 2023, according to a September report from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Harris has proposed expanding the Child Tax Credit — from $2,000 to $3,600 per child, and $6,000 for new parents — along with a $25,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and a $50,000 tax break for small business startups.
“Kamala Harris doesn’t have concepts of a plan, she has an actual plan to make your life better, to bring down the costs of things like groceries,” Obama said.
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