Trump and Harris' tactics in the confrontation in Michigan
Báo Tuổi Trẻ•28/10/2024
Mr. Trump targets Muslim and Arab-American voters with tensions in the Middle East, while Ms. Harris focuses on domestic issues and differentiates herself from her opponent.
Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris at campaign rallies before voting day - Photo: AFP
The race for the White House is heating up as former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris both target battleground states in the final days.
Why Michigan?
Michigan is a battleground state that is voting early and holds 15 electoral votes. Whether the state is "blue" - the symbolic color of the Democratic Party or "red" - the color of the Republican Party - is very important to the two candidates. According to the FiveThirtyEight poll, Ms. Harris still leads Mr. Trump in Michigan, with 47.6% compared to 47.1%. Other polls show that Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump are actually in a tie in Michigan. In the US, Michigan is part of the so-called "Rust Belt" along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, due to their history of heavy industrial development. All three states have similar voting traditions. As DW said, the entire election can be decided by a small number of voters in these important states. That is another reason why both Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris will campaign in Michigan on October 26, with the venue being just over 200km apart.
Trump's strategy
Mr. Trump was welcomed at the campaign rally in Michigan on October 26 - Photo: REUTERS
Speaking at a rally in suburban Detroit (Michigan) on October 26, Mr. Trump revealed that he had just met with a group of local Muslim clerics. The former president then argued that he deserved the support of Muslim voters because he would end the conflict and bring peace to the Middle East. "That's all they want," Mr. Trump said, while pledging to auto workers that he would reverse the economic downturn in the Detroit area and across the country. According to Reuters, Mr. Trump did not say how he would end the conflict in the Middle East. However, he still received support from some American Muslims - who are dissatisfied with the policies of the Biden - Harris administration since the conflict broke out in the Gaza Strip. Imam Belal Alzuhairi of the Detroit Islamic Center appeared on stage with Mr. Trump. "We ask Muslims to support President Trump because he promises peace," he called.
The former president had previously mocked his opponent for partying when Israel attacked Iran, which escalated tensions in the Middle East. At the time, the current vice president was hosting an event with singer Beyoncé in Texas. After leaving Michigan, Trump traveled to Pennsylvania, where he tried to appeal to young voters with a rally at Pennsylvania State University. Bringing the school's wrestling team on stage, he said: "We have to end with a big win on November 5."
Former First Lady Rocks the Stage
Candidate Harris (left) and former first lady Michelle Obama at a campaign rally in Michigan on October 26 - Photo: AFP
In the southern Michigan city of Kalamazoo, Harris campaigned by contrasting herself with Trump on issues such as abortion rights, taxes, and health care. Former first lady Michelle Obama also appeared at the event and stirred the crowd by pointing out the differences in personality and qualifications between the two candidates, with Harris being the better qualified. "I'm a little disappointed that some of us are choosing to ignore Trump's blatant incompetence while asking Harris to overwhelm us on everything," the former first lady said, urging any undecided voters to get out of that mindset. The former first lady also addressed women's health, saying Trump doesn't understand the complexities of the issue and other health care programs that benefit people. Harris spoke optimistically for a few minutes before being interrupted by a protester who repeatedly shouted, "No more war in Gaza." Harris's supporters shouted back to prevent any interruptions. The vice president then declared, "That war has to stop," before continuing her speech and asking voters to overcome their divisions. "Over the last eight years, Trump has become more confused, more unstable, more angry, and it's clear that he's increasingly out of control. Last time, at least there were people who could control him, but remember, they're not with him this time," Harris said.
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