This year the presidential election between Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is on November 5th. With Michigan historically being a swing state, campaigning is a major form of outreach to smaller communities.
“I think that they [elections] can have a large impact, garnering any bit of support in states that are so closely divided can go a long way, ” said senior Ben Weston.
Vice President Harris campaigned in Detroit on Sept. 2 at Northwestern High School. Similarly, Former President Trump campaigned in Potterville on August 29th at Alro Steel. Both parties strategically picked the location of their campaign based off of their target audience. Harris chose her campaigning site to target middle-class factory workers, focusing on the history of Michigan’s auto industry. Comparably, Trump determined to host his rally in Potterville in honor of the growing manufacturing jobs.
Following these rallies, people in Michigan became critical of both candidates and their location of choice.
“I know Kamala being in Detroit, that’s a very diverse area. And I think Trump’s rally wasn’t in an area of need necessarily, but I think that’s a strong thing that Kamala did, she went to a place that should be more focused on versus Trump going to an area that has a lot of supporters already, ” said junior Sydney Manning.
Detroit has a very diverse community with many people of different races, social classes, and ages. Additionally, the city is known as the home of America’s auto industry and a hub for factory workers in the middle-class.
“I think campaigning in smaller towns is influential because you’re getting into the nitty gritty areas versus the heavily populated cities. But I do think that doing something in the community that actively helps them is beneficial, ” said Manning.
Differing from Harris, Trump chose to hold a rally in Potterville, which has less diversity but a dense population of middle-class individuals that work in factories or the farming industry.
“I think that in terms of gathering support for a candidate, campaigning and rallying are two of the most effective tools, ” said Weston.
The possibility of this positively impacting Trump is probable, as can be seen by polls. In the days following the Potterville rally Trump gained 1.2% in the Michigan Presidental Polls while Harris maintained a steady percentage after visiting Detroit.
The possibility of this positively impacting Trump is probable, as can be seen by polls. In the days following the Potterville rally Trump gained 1.2% in the Michigan Presidental Polls while Harris maintained a steady percentage after visiting Detroit.
