Harris rallies with Michelle Obama, Trump courts Arab vote in all-important Michigan

Kamala Harris returned to Michigan on Saturday for a rally with former first lady Michelle Obama, the latest in a series of her campaign's high-profile combinations intended to boost turnout among the Democratic Party faithful, as Republican rival Donald Trump sought to court the state's Arab voters.

After arriving in the battleground state, Harris went to a local doctor's office in Portage to talk with health-care providers and medical students about the impact of abortion restrictions.

One of them said they have patients visiting from other parts of the country where there are strict limitations on abortion, and another said she's worried that people won't want to practise in important areas of medicine because of fears about government intrusion.

"We are looking at a health-care crisis in America that is affecting people of every background and gender," Harris told reporters before visiting the doctor's office.

Harris appeared with Beyonc on Friday in Houston, and she campaigned with former president Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen on Thursday in Atlanta.

WATCH | Harris stumps with Beyonc, Trump sits down for Joe Rogan podcast:

Harris campaigns with Beyonc, Trump sits down with Rogan as election day approaches

3 days ago

Duration 5:18

The U.S. election is less than two weeks away, and the presidential candidates have turned to some American media celebrities to promote their platforms. In Texas, Vice-President Kamala Harris was joined on stage by singer Beyonc, while former president Donald Trump taped an appearance on UFC colour commentator Joe Rogans podcast.

It's a level of celebrity clout that surpasses anything that Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has been able to marshal this year. But there's no guarantee that will help Harris in the close race for the White House. In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost to Trump despite firing up her crowds with musical performances and Democratic allies.

Trump brushed off Harris's attempt to harness star power for her campaign.

"Kamala is at a dance party with Beyonc," the former president said Friday in Traverse City, Mich.

Saturday is the first day that early in-person voting becomes available across Michigan. More than 1.4 million ballots have already been submitted, representing 20 per cent of registered voters.

Trump won the state in 2016, but Democrat Joe Biden carried it four years later.

Michigan is home to major car companies and the nation's largest concentration of members of the United Auto Workers. It also has a significant Arab American population, and many have been frustrated by the Biden administration's support for Israel's offensive in Gaza after the attack led by Hamas against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

During a rally on Saturday in the Detroit suburb of Novi, Trump spotlighted local Muslim and Arab American leaders who joined him on stage. These voters "could turn the election one way or the other," Trump said, adding that he was banking on "overwhelming support" from those voters in Michigan.

"When President Trump was president, it was peace," said one of those leaders, Mayor Bill Bazzi of Dearborn Heights. "We didn't have any issues. There was no wars."

While Trump is trying to capitalize on the community's frustration with the Democratic administration, he has a history of policies hostile to this group, including a travel ban targeting Muslim countries while in office and a pledge to expand it to include refugees from Gaza if he wins on Nov. 5.

A Trump ally, Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the grandson of Lebanese immigrants, told reporters that Trump was winning over support from more Arab Americans and has cultivated relationships with leaders in the Middle East that would bring more stability to the region.