Michigan Dems celebrate Biden and support Harris

President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from his 2024 re-election campaign has upended a Michigan campaign that was already full of unexpected twists and turns.
The question of who the Democrats might nominate as Biden’s successor is currently the big topic at the Democratic Party convention, which will meet in Chicago next month.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been endorsed by Biden and appears to be the likely choice, although many Democrats have called for a public convention to set an example of a transparent process and generate interest.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer made no mention of Harris in a social media post Sunday after Biden’s announcement, nor did she mention that she would run for president or vice president:

President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it will take to defeat Donald Trump. His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership for decades to come will go down in history. My job in this election will remain the same: to do everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda of raising costs for families, banning abortion nationwide, and abusing the power of the White House to pay his own bills is completely wrong for Michigan.

Other statements from party leadership praised Biden but did not address the problems that have plagued his candidacy since his troubling performance in the first presidential debate with former President Donald Trump last month.

Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes praised Biden’s commitment to reproductive and LGBTQ rights and ending gun violence.

“President Biden has always been there for Michigan, and Michigan Democrats will always be grateful for his vision of a country that puts aside its differences and finds hope together for a better future,” she said. “Mr. President, you have been our fearless leader, our friend and an incredible public servant – and we can never thank you enough.”

Biden’s decision has left many Democrats relieved, or at least less concerned, about their presidential prospects in Michigan, a swing state. They are also worried about the electoral impact further down the line, where control of the state’s House of Representatives, swing seats in Congress and the U.S. Senate race in Michigan are at stake.

Pollster Richard Czuba of the Glengariff Group told the Michigan Public Radio Network that the prospect of a new candidate will make the election more interesting for people who are already less likely to vote.

“When the Democrats do well against Donald Trump, turnout is very high and their voters are motivated,” he said. “And I suspect what we’ve seen here in this earthquake is that the Democrats are galvanized.”

Czuba says independents, who make up about 20 percent of Michigan voters, will be crucial. His previous polls showed Biden struggling in Michigan, but voters were also unhappy with Trump as an alternative.

For Democrats, the goal was – and still is – to increase Democratic turnout, to appeal to younger voters, to feel the impact of the Trump assassination attempt and the fact that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the Natural Law Party is on the ballot in Michigan.

Czuba says her concern is not unfounded.

“Because nothing is normal,” he said. “Nothing is normal in this election year, and we are seeing that now.”