In the state of Michigan, vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris and incumbent President Donald Trump spent time making efforts to win over working-class voters. Both seeking an advantage in this key demographic, the message they conveyed, however, varied to some significant degree.
Kamala Harris, vice presidential pick for Democratic nominee Joe Biden, utilized her time to focus primarily on the economic status of Michigan’s auto industry, the need for access to affordable childcare and the importance of labor unions. Her campaign’s narrative was framed around rebuilding the state’s economy, expressing Biden’s evolving philosophy about the role of the government in aiding the middle class.
On the other side of the political divide, President Trump’s Michigan tour saw him promising to protect jobs in the manufacturing sector while dissuading voters from trusting what he refers to as Biden’s radical left agenda. Trump’s team sought to cement the idea that the economic prosperity experienced pre-pandemic could return under his leadership.
Each campaign’s approach to winning over working-class voters in Michigan is reflective of their wider strategies playing out on a national stage. Harris aimed to promote a future where the government provides more support for working families, while Trump reasserted the importance of self-reliance and capitalist values.
In the end, the dedication and focus of the campaigns rendered is a testament to the importance of Michigan and its working-class individuals in this year’s election. The state’s mix of blue-collar workers and its history of siding with the winning candidate in every election until 2016 have made it a significant battleground.
The final results of the election will eventually determine which message working-class voters felt resonates with them most and who they trust to lead the country in these challenging times. It remains to be seen who will succeed in Michigan and how that may impact the general election outcome.
