US Vice President Kamala Harris made a visit to Michigan on Monday to win over working-class voters ahead of the election. She toured a training facility for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and highlighted the administration’s efforts to bring more factory jobs to the state. Harris also contrasted her support for labor unions with that of her Republican rival, Donald Trump, accusing him of being more concerned with the wealthy elite than with working people.
Harris criticized Trump’s record on labor, pointing out that he has filled the National Labor Relations Board with anti-union figures. She also took issue with Trump’s praise for Elon Musk, who has advocated for firing striking workers. Harris emphasized the importance of the Biden administration’s efforts to create high-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector, citing the example of the semiconductor factory she visited earlier in the day.
The factory, which will receive up to $325 million in federal funding, will create 180 new jobs in Michigan. Harris emphasized the need for constant investment in industries of the future, while also honoring the traditions and industries that have built America’s economy. She also praised the workers at the facility, saying that their efforts were essential to driving economic growth.
In addition to her focus on manufacturing, Harris has been using the closing days of the election to press multiple messages with diverse groups of voters. With black and Latino men, she has highlighted forgivable loans for small businesses, while with women, she has stressed her support for abortion rights. Harris has also characterized Trump as a fascist and a threat to democracy.
Kamala Harris (Image via Getty)
The Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act has provided $30 billion in funding for 23 projects in 15 states, which is expected to create 115,000 manufacturing and construction jobs. Trump, however, has attacked the policy, suggesting that it would provide funding for “rich companies” to build chip factories. Trump has also proposed hiking tariffs on foreign-made computer chips, which would likely contribute to rising inflation.
In contrast, Harris emphasized the need for federal investment in industries of the future, while also honoring the traditions and industries that have built America’s economy. She also praised the workers at the facility, saying that their efforts were essential to driving economic growth. The vice president’s visit to Michigan was part of a broader effort to win over working-class voters in key swing states, as the election approaches.
