Michelle Obama is supporting Harris in Michigan, where Trump is banking on Muslim votes, according to Reuters

Written by James Oliphant and Trevor Hunnicutt

NOVI/KALAMAZOO, Michigan (Reuters) – Donald Trump appealed to Muslim voters in Michigan on Saturday as Michelle Obama did for Kamala Harris at her Democratic Alliance battleground rally.

In Michigan, Harris and Trump are vying for voters who include a crowd of Arab Americans and Muslims worried about Israel's bombing of Gaza, and union workers worried about how electric cars could reshape the American auto industry, headquartered in Detroit, the state's largest city. .

Election Day is November 5 but early voting was underway in Michigan, as are many states.

Speaking at a rally outside Detroit, Trump said he recently met with a group of local imams, arguing that he deserves the support of Muslim voters because he will end conflicts and bring peace to the Middle East.

“That's all they want,” Trump said in the Detroit suburb of Novi, promising auto workers at the rally that he would reverse the economic downturn in the Detroit area and nationally.

Trump fully supports Israel but has yet to say how he will end the conflict there.

Still, Trump appears to be gaining support from some Muslim Americans who are outraged by President Joe Biden and Harris' support for Israel, despite Trump banning immigration from many Muslim countries during his first term as president.

Imam Belal Alzuhairi of the Islamic Center of Detroit joined Trump on stage, saying, “We are asking Muslims to stand with President Trump because he promises peace.”

With about 8.4 million registered voters and 15 of the 270 electoral college votes needed to win, Michigan is one of seven competitive US states that will decide the election. It is part of the “Green Wall” considered the Democrats' best chance to pick Harris, along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

OBAMA CALLS THE SCENE

In the southern Michigan city of Kalamazoo, 210 kilometers away, Harris drew a line between himself and Trump on issues such as abortion rights, taxes and health care.

But first Obama, the famous wife of former President Barack Obama, fired the crowd by pointing out the difference between the two candidates in terms of personality and qualifications, and said there was a double standard in the way Trump and Harris were treated.

“I hope you'll forgive me for being frustrated that some of us choose to ignore Trump's inefficiencies while asking Kamala to shine a light on us all the time,” the former first lady said, appealing to any undecided voters “in whatever fog they're in.”

Obama also spoke extensively about women's health, saying that Trump has failed to show that he understands its difficulties and that his vows to repeal the Affordable Care Act that was passed during her husband's presidency will affect “every woman's life, everything.”

“We as women will be the pawns of your wrath,” she said, later introducing Harris to the cheering crowd.

Harris had been speaking for a few minutes when he was interrupted by a protester who repeatedly shouted, “No more war in Gaza.”

After Harris supporters spoke out against the distraction, Harris responded, “On Gaza, we have to end that war,” then picked up where he left off, asking voters to “turn the page on fear and division.”

“In the last eight years, Donald Trump has become very confused, very unstable and very angry, and it is clear that he is becoming more and more unstable. But finally, at least there were people who could control him, but be careful not with him this time,” said Harris.

Prior to this meeting, Harris met with women's health workers in Portage, Michigan, where he said the country is in a health care crisis following the 2022 decision of the US Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade, who had affirmed the right of women to have an abortion. cross country.

Harris heard from six female medical providers who described being overwhelmed by patients from other states because of the lack of health care in their areas since Roe was overturned.

After leaving Michigan, Trump went to Pennsylvania, where he tried to appeal to young voters with a rally on the campus of Penn State University, at one point bringing a school group that fought with him on stage.

“We have to finish it with a big victory on November 5,” he said.

POLICIES SHOW A STRONG ASSOCIATION

Harris leads Trump nationally 46% to 43%, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. In Michigan, Harris leads even less – 47.6% to 47.1%, according to the FiveThirtyEight aggregator.

Beginning with the 2020 election, Michigan began in-person voting for the first time and began allowing precincts with more than 5,000 residents to begin processing and tabulating mail-in ballots eight days before Election Day 5.

So far, 19.5% of Michigan's registered voters, or nearly 1.42 million people, have cast ballots, the Michigan Department of State said Friday. Only 10,900 early votes were cast, and some were returned as absentee ballots.