At a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday, former First Lady Michelle Obama made a passionate appeal to men to support Kamala Harris’s campaign for president, emphasizing the dangers women’s rights face should Donald Trump return to the White House. In her speech, Obama linked the assault on abortion rights to broader threats to women’s healthcare, urging men not to let their frustrations with progress endanger the lives of the women and children they care about.
Obama stated, “If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother— we as women will become collateral damage to your rage.” She called on men to consider the implications of their vote, asking if they were prepared to look into the eyes of the women in their lives and explain their support for what she termed an “assault on our safety.”
This rally marked Obama’s first campaign appearance since addressing the Democratic National Convention earlier this summer, and her remarks were both fiery and deeply personal in their support of Harris. She noted Harris’s qualifications, declaring, “By every measure, she has demonstrated that she’s ready,” but also questioned whether the country was truly prepared for a historic moment with a woman president. Obama implored her audience not to be swayed by misconceptions about Harris’s identity or agenda, asserting, “This is somebody who understands you, all of you.”
As she expressed her fears for the nation’s future, Obama shared her personal struggles with the current political climate, saying, “I lay awake at night wondering, ‘What in the world is going on?’” She highlighted the challenges women face in managing their health, from menstrual cycles to childbirth, and stressed the gravity of healthcare decisions that can be a matter of life or death.
Following Obama’s impassioned speech, Kamala Harris took the stage, promising the crowd that her presidency would prioritize their interests, in contrast to Trump, whom she accused of being self-serving. Harris stated, “There is a yearning in our country for a president who sees the people, not just looking in the mirror all the time, but sees the people, who gets you and who will fight for you.”
After the rally, Harris visited a local bar with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, where they enjoyed local brews and interacted with constituents. During a pre-rally visit to a doctor’s office in Portage, Harris spoke with healthcare providers about the ramifications of abortion restrictions, highlighting concerns that patients from other states with stricter laws are increasingly seeking care in Michigan.
In a broader context, Harris campaigned with high-profile figures like Beyoncé and former President Barack Obama, which contrasts sharply with Trump’s more limited celebrity connections. Nonetheless, Trump dismissed Harris’s celebrity endorsements, remarking on her appearance at a “dance party” with Beyoncé while holding his own rally in Michigan.
As early in-person voting commenced in Michigan, with over 1.4 million ballots already submitted, President Joe Biden was also on the campaign trail, addressing the Laborers’ International Union in Pittsburgh. He praised Harris’s commitment to organized labor and criticized Trump for his anti-union stance. Biden asserted that women should have equal opportunities, stating, “They can do anything any man can do, including be president of the United States of America.”
In a political landscape marked by a gender divide, the campaign strategies of both Harris and Biden indicate a concerted effort to mobilize support among women voters while addressing concerns about the implications of a Trump presidency.
