Some of Michigan's leading Democrats, including the state's governor, rejected President Joe Biden's rally in the must-win state on Friday.
According to Steve Peoples of the Associated Press, those not present at the rally included Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Gary Peters and Rep. Elissa Slotkin.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will not attend Biden's appearance in Michigan on Friday. Sen. Gary Peters, a staunch Biden supporter, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who is running for the open Michigan Senate seat, will also be absent. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is traveling…
— Steve Peoples (@sppeoples) July 12, 2024
Rep. Hillary Scholten also skipped the event, opting instead to issue a statement calling for the president to step aside.
“President Biden has secured an incredible legacy during his lifetime of public service,” the statement said. “The president's major accomplishments on infrastructure, health care costs, climate change and gun safety follow a distinguished Senate career that included landmark achievements like the Violence Against Women Act.”
“President Biden has spent his life serving our nation and building the next generation of American leadership. For the sake of our democracy,
| I believe it is time for him to step away from the presidential race and allow a new leader to rise,” the statement continued.
President Biden has served his country well, but for the sake of our democracy, he must pass the torch to a new candidate for the 2024 election. pic.twitter.com/derEO1kl3f
— Hillary Scholten (@HillaryScholten) July 11, 2024
Scholten is one of nearly two dozen congressional Democrats who have issued public statements calling for the president to step aside and let a stronger opponent take on former President Donald Trump.
So far, the president has dismissed concerns about his health and vowed to continue fighting the former president.
Despite not attending Friday's rally, Whitmer gave the president a shout-out at X, writing, “Motor City is ready for Biden-Harris.”
Look at:
It's always great to have a president @JoeBiden in Detroit! Motor City is ready for Biden-Harris.
— Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) July 12, 2024
Whitmer, meanwhile, is co-chairwoman of the Biden campaign and has pledged to continue supporting the president unless he decides to drop it.
“He shows up every day and fights for the American public,” he said during an interview with CNN on Wednesday. “He cares more about others than he does about himself.”
“And that's precisely why I think that at this point when we have Donald Trump, who has been convicted of 34 felonies, who only cares about Donald Trump, we can't lose sight of what these stakes are. We have a field, and except that one person, Joe Biden, make an alternative decision, that's the field, and we have to go,” he added.
However, during the interview, the governor suggested that it “wouldn't hurt” for the president to take a cognitive test.
Listen:
As for the same concentration on Friday, the New York Post notes that none of the president's “warm-up speakers” ever simply said 'Vote for Joe Biden,' choosing instead to say 'Vote for democracy' or 'Vote for freedom.'”
Public attendees at the rally told the Post they expected the president to perform better than he did during his devastating debate late last month with former President Trump.
“I hope he's better,” a young attendee named Akil told The Post. “He has to talk about work and families. We need better there.”
“I agree that the key is family and how it will improve our homes and our daily lives,” added Asher, another young attendee.
Meanwhile, the rally's “unifying” theme was Orange Man Bad.
“Flush his ass down the toilet,” one retired union worker told the Post, referring to Trump. “And you can quote me on that. Biden is the ONLY choice for working Americans. There is no other.”
The rally was reportedly protested by anti-Israel fanatics.
“Biden, Biden, what are you saying? How many children have you killed today?” a fanatic yelled from the microphone.
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