DETROIT — Vice President Kamala Harris He appeared with Lizzo on Saturday in the singer’s hometown of Detroit, marking the start of the in-person vote and praising the city after recent Republican nominee Donald Trump. he underestimated it.
“The best things were made in Detroit. Coney Dogs, Faygo and Lizzo,” the singer joked to a rally crowd, pointing to himself after listing the hot dogs and sodas the city is known for.
He said it’s time to “bring some respect to Detroit’s name,” noting that the city has revolutionized the auto and music industries and adding that he had already voted for Harris as “an early vote.”
Many accolades for the Motor City followed Trumpthe former president insulted him during a recent campaign stop. And Harris stayed on topic, saying of his campaign, “Like the people of Detroit, we have passion, we have excellence, we have history.”
As he took the stage with arms outstretched, Harris caught the crowd by wearing a “Detroit vs. Everybody” T-shirt under his blazer, which the owner of his production business had given him during an earlier stop in the city. per week He even moved around the stage during his speech with a handheld microphone, not using a teleprompter.
More than 1 million Michigan residents have already voted by mail in the Nov. 5 election, and Harris predicted Detroit’s turnout would be strong.
“Who is the capital of record production?” Harris asked people to set new highs in early voting. “We’re going to break some records today in Detroit.”
He called Trump unstable: “Somebody needs to watch his rallies if you don’t know how to vote.”
“We will not return these 17 days. On election day, we don’t want to have any regrets,” said the vice president.
Lizzo also told the crowd, “Madam Commander in Chief has a nice ring to it.”
“This is the swing state of all swing states, so every last vote here counts,” the singer said. Then, referring to her song of the same title, Lizzo added: “If you ask me if America is ready for its first female president, I have only one thing to say: ‘It’s about damn time!’
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said Harris needed Lizzo “to hide the fact that under President Trump, Michiganders felt good: real wages were higher, prices were lower, and everyone was better off.”
Talona Johnson, a product manager in Rochester, Michigan, attended Harris’ rally and said Harris “and his team are doing the things they need to do to make sure people are informed.”
“I think he’s telling the truth. He’s trying to help people,” said Johnson, who said he planned to vote for Harris and that women’s rights were a top concern.
“I don’t necessarily agree with everything he’s put up, but it’s better than the alternative”
In comments to reporters before the rally, Harris said he was in Detroit to “thank everyone for the work they’re doing to help organize and register to vote, and to get out to vote today. He also called Detroit a “great American city” with “a lot of hard-working people with drive and ambition and who deserve to be respected.”
The vice president was asked whether the Biden administration has the full backing of Israel War with Hamas in Gaza It could hurt his support in Michigan. Dearborn, next to Detroit, is the nation’s largest Arab-majority city.
“It’s never been easy,” Harris said of Middle East politics. “But that doesn’t mean we give up.”
He’ll get even more star power Saturday in Atlanta, where he’ll be co-starring with Usher, another popular singer.
Before Harris became the Democratic nominee, 19-year-old Ian Summer planned to vote against Trump, but he wasn’t keen on President Joe Biden. Harris has “brought a lot of energy” since entering the race, Summer said. Summer is worried about Trump’s abortion access restrictions. needs, that’s very scary,” he said.
Early voting is also underway in Georgia. More than 1.2 million votes were cast, either in person or by mail. Democrats hope a broad organizing effort will push Harris against Trump in the final weeks of the campaign.
Roderick Williams, 56, brought his three daughters to Harris’ rally in Atlanta. Her youngest daughter was born around the time former President Barack Obama took office, and she hopes to witness history once again as Harris becomes the first black woman to become president.
“It’s important for them to see that anything is possible,” Williams said.
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Associated Press Matt Brown in Detroit, Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta and Will Weissert and Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed.
