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    • Michelle Obama gives strong closing message to Harris in Michigan
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    Michelle Obama gives strong closing message to Harris in Michigan

    Harry Posted on

    Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a powerful speech at a rally in Michigan comparing Kamala Harris to former President Donald Trump.

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    KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Michelle Obama didn’t mince her words.

    The former first lady hit the campaign trail on Saturday, opening for Vice President Kamala Harris in Kalamazoo on the first day of early voting in Michigan, where the Democratic presidential candidate is deadlocked with Trump. Obama warned about Trump’s second term during his speech.

    “I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m a little disappointed that some of us have chosen to ignore Donald Trump’s gross incompetence while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every opportunity,” Obama said. “We expect him to be smart and outspoken, to have clear policies, to never show too much anger, to prove time and time again that he belongs. But we expect nothing from Trump, no understanding of politics, no ability to form a coherent argument, no integrity, no tact, no morals.” no.”

    Obama’s pithy remarks in support of Harris were strongest among Democratic figures, including her husband, who is campaigning for the incumbent vice president, as Harris made her closing argument against Trump.

    ‘This is someone who understands you’

    Harris has targeted Detroit with her campaign efforts, holding an event with former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney in a suburb of the city earlier in the week aimed at winning over anti-Trump Republicans.

    On Saturday, he and Obama went after a decidedly different crowd: apathetic voters who said they didn’t know enough about Harris or her background.

    “Michigan, don’t believe the lie that we don’t know who Kamala is or what she represents,” Obama said. “This is someone who understands you, all of you, someone from a middle-class family who was raised mostly by his mother.”

    It was Obama’s first speech at the Democratic National Convention, but he hadn’t spoken at a campaign rally in almost eight years. “I haven’t done this in a long time,” Obama said as he warmed up.

    He said Trump won in 2016 because he got a pass. “Let’s not forget how badly this turned out for all of us.”

    Obama said Harris filled arenas, put herself out there and confronted her critics.

    “Unlike his rival, he doesn’t duck interviews or cower in safe spaces in the face of merely fawning audiences,” he added. “No, he shows us what a sane, stable leader looks like.”

    The former first lady touched on a message Harris gave in the final days of the race about Trump’s fitness for office. In her speech, Harris described Trump as confused, erratic and increasingly erratic.

    Are you keeping up with the 2024 Election? Sign up for USA TODAY’s On Politics newsletter.

    Michelle Obama on Trump: ‘Remember how unprepared he was’

    Before the rally began, attendees said Harris’ bet worked. They listed democracy and, to a lesser extent, the economy and abortion rights as the most prominent issues in the election.

    “It’s democracy. We need to protect it,” said Mike Simmons, 44, a Kalamazoo resident who works in manufacturing. “I honestly don’t think he’ll survive if we lose this election.”

    In his speech, Obama tried to remind voters why Trump was removed from office. He tried to deflate some voters’ positive feelings about their finances while he was in office, saying he didn’t know how to handle the crisis when the pandemic hit.

    “Remember how unprepared he was, how he sowed fear and confusion, how he endangered lives with his lies and ignorance, how he denigrated the doctors and scientists who were trying to help us,” he said. “You want to talk about plans? My husband left her a very detailed epidemic plan and you know what she did? She ignored it.”

    Obama made a special appeal to women to participate in the elections, especially those who live in homes where they are ignored and belittled. To them, he said, your vote is a “private matter.”

    “Regardless of your partner’s political views, you have the right to choose. You have the right to use your judgment,” he said. “Remember, women who stand up for what’s best for us can make a difference in this election.”

    Messages pasted on the inside of the stalls in the women’s restroom in the arena caught her attention. They write “WOMAN TO WOMAN” in capital letters, “NO ONE will be able to see your vote in the ballot box.” They added a QR code that led to the homepage of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Vote.org.

    Silent Kamala voter

    Sheri Millard, a 62-year-old resident of Portage, Michigan, pointed out the sticky notes on the counters.

    “I think there are a lot of people who support Kamala but aren’t willing to say it,” Millard said.

    Millard predicted that women would join Harris in the election in large numbers and could vote for her without telling their husbands.

    Addressing the issue of reproductive health at length in his speech, Obama made statements mostly aimed at men. She told them in chilling detail what might happen to the women in their lives if they lost access to reproductive health care, and warned about the effects abortion restrictions could have on her sons.

    At one point he said, “I don’t want you to get demoralized yet, that’s what you’ll do.” Moments later, he implored them not to let their frustrations with the lack of progress in society get in the way of voting for Harris.

    At a game at their venue, voters wore shirts inviting him to “Kamalazoo.” While Obama mentioned the largely Democratic city in the introduction to Harris’ first name, he changed it, causing the crowd to stand up.

    “I know you mean Kamalazoo, I heard you,” Harris later told a voter at the beginning of her remarks.

    The vice president’s speech focused largely on pointing out the differences between his platform and Trump.

    As at her past rallies, Harris told a supporter who interrupted her with a message about Trump’s criminal convictions that the matter would be up to the courts.

    Harris’ speech was also interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protester.

    “We must end this war over Gaza,” Harris said. “We must end the war and bring the hostages home. But now I’m talking about 2024.”

    Harris returned to her message of turning the page on Trump.

    Credit: Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY

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