DETROIT (AP) — For Kamala Harris’s candidacy to win as Joe Biden did four years ago in the “Blue Wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania could be enough for the Democrats to reach the 270 electoral votes and return to the White House for a new four-year term.
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But the "wall" shows cracks, especially in Michigan, a state where the large population with Arab roots would turn its back on the Democratic candidacy due to Biden's government support for Israel in the Gaza War.
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Therefore, the presence of popular Barack Obama at an event in Detroit and the support of rapper Eminem, a symbol of the "Motor City," can be crucial for Harris to maintain the slight advantage she has over Donald Trump, according to polls.
How did Eminem show his support for Kamala Harris?
Rapper Eminem entered the political arena, where he delivered a brief speech in favor of Kamala Harris, and then welcomed former president Barack Obama to the stage.
"As many of you know, the city of Detroit and the entire state of Michigan mean a lot to me. And as we head into these elections, the spotlight is on us like never before," said Eminem, a longtime critic of former President Donald Trump. "And I think it's important to use our voice. So I urge all of you to go out and vote."
He added that people should not be afraid of reprisals for expressing their opinion, and pointed out that Harris "supports a future for this country where these and many other freedoms will be protected."
The rapper introduced Obama, who took the stage as Eminem's song "Lose Yourself" played. The former president joked that "my palms are sweaty," a reference to one of the first verses of the rapper's hit, and continued rapping several more lines.
Voting begins in Michigan
The appearance of Obama and Eminem occurs a few days before early voting begins in Michigan. Democrats are hopeful that the event, filled with stars like former Detroit Lions receiver and Hall of Famer, Calvin Johnson, will excite voters.
The voter turnout in Detroit, a long-time Democratic stronghold, will be crucial in determining who wins the state in November, when Michigan becomes one of the few entities without a clear political preference that will determine the outcome of the presidential election and control of the Senate.
Obama pointed out that Trump is not fit for the position and cited several recent incidents, such as the event where the Republican chose to do something like an impromptu concert, where he danced to the rhythm of several songs for about 40 minutes instead of answering voters' questions.
"If your grandfather were behaving this way, you would be concerned," Obama said. "This is a person who wants absolute power. We don't need to find out what an older, crazier Donald Trump without checks and balances would look like. The United States is ready to turn the page."
According to a survey by the Washington Post, Kamala Harris has a preference of 49% among potential voters in Michigan, compared to 47% for Donald Trump. In 2020, Biden won this state with over 150,000 votes over the Republican magnate (50.6% to 47.8%).