Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to address the Democratic National Convention Thursday night : NPR

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer attends the second day of the Democratic Nationwide Conference on the United Middle on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

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The NPR Community might be reporting stay from Chicago all through the week bringing you the newest on the Democratic Nationwide Conference.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stated her Democratic Nationwide Conference speech will lay out the case for Vice President Kamala Harris’ candidacy from the attitude of a swing state governor.

In an interview with the Michigan Public Radio Community, she stated that features sharing the sense of optimism amongst Democrats with the brand new ticket of Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz heading into November.

“We all know that there’s a whole lot of positivity and power and joyful warriors right here,” she stated. “What we have to do is be prepared on Friday to get again into our states and have these conversations, end up the vote, get folks registered and that’s what I’m making an attempt to convey to everybody right here.”

At present serving her second time period, Whitmer has overseen a Democratic surge within the divided state. Her reelection two years in the past was fueled by outrage over the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s overturning of federal abortion rights and capitalized on a Michigan Republican Social gathering in disarray.

Within the interview, Whitmer additionally addressed Israel’s battle on Hamas in Gaza, a problem dividing Democrats in Michigan, which has one of many largest Arab-American populations within the nation.

Whitmer stated Harris could also be in a greater place to bridge that divide now that she is the nominee.

“I recognize the truth that the Harris-Walz marketing campaign has been very intentional about having conversations with individuals who hadn’t been part of a dialog with the Biden marketing campaign,” she stated.

Former President Donald Trump has made 4 visits to Michigan this 12 months in an effort to spice up Republican turnout. He made a marketing campaign cease within the outskirts of metro Detroit on Tuesday.

Flanked by legislation enforcement officers, Trump talked about public security and immigration, but additionally veered into jobs and the economic system and predicted the demise of the home auto trade if he loses the November election.

“Each auto employee right here might be out of a job inside three years if I’m not elected — each auto employee on this state,” he stated. “They’re all going to be made in China.”

Different Michiganders who addressed the conference this week embody U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, United Auto Employees President Shawn Fain and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who’s dealing with GOP candidate Mike Rogers within the common election.