Detroit is witnessing a surge of activity from both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump as they aim to energize vital voter groups that their supporters are increasingly worried might be drifting away. The vice president is set to connect with Black men, while the former president is focusing on the female demographic.
Harris will participate in a town hall event in Detroit, facilitated by the popular morning radio show “The Breakfast Club,” which features Charlamagne Tha God, a well-known figure among Black men. Trump, on the other hand, will record a town hall for Fox News with a female-only audience, hosted by Harris Faulkner. In addition, Harris plans to visit a Black-owned business in Detroit. The day prior, she toured LegendErie, a combination coffee shop and record store in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she interacted with the owners, a local pastor, and community leaders.
In a demonstration of unified strategy, Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is rolling out plans aimed at improving conditions for rural Americans. This indicates that as the race remains tight, both sides are keen to engage and hold onto diverse voting segments while enhancing their existing bases of support.
The vice president’s appearance on “The Breakfast Club” follows her announcement of new initiatives called the “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” which aims to boost economic opportunities for this group. Proposals include forgiveness of business loans up to $20,000 for entrepreneurs and increasing apprenticeship programs. The agenda also emphasizes supporting research into illnesses such as sickle cell disease, which disproportionately affect Black men.
Harris’ focus on Black men has intensified, particularly after former President Barack Obama stumped for her in Pittsburgh, where he expressed a desire to address “some truths” to Black male voters. He implied that some may not be fully on board with the concept of female leadership in the presidency.
The campaign for Harris holds the belief that while major shifts in Black male support toward Trump are unlikely, there is genuine concern about the possibility of a significant portion of Black males abstaining from voting altogether, given their strong backing for Joe Biden and Harris in 2020.
On the other side, while Trump’s appeal in rural areas is evident, Harris’ team is keen on keeping the competition close. Trump, who has seen a decline in support among women, especially in suburban regions critical to winning the election, aims to stem the tide against Harris by solidifying his own backing among female voters.
Harris’ campaign is also making strides to connect with other male demographics. They have initiated “Hombres con Harris,” a movement aimed at courting Hispanic men through celebrity endorsements and events to boost her appeal among this demographic.
During her campaigning in Detroit, Harris faces additional challenges, including dissatisfaction among Arab activists regarding the Biden administration’s backing of Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Dearborn, located near Detroit, has the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the country.
Nevertheless, Harris’ campaign anticipates strong backing from white, college-educated voters in Michigan, possibly exceeding the level of support Biden received in 2020. Her strategy includes enhancing the margins where Trump lost significantly in suburban areas four years ago.
Conversely, Trump has struggled to maintain his appeal among women, with recent polls indicating over half of registered female voters viewing Harris favorably compared to only about a third for Trump. To combat this disconnect, Trump has attempted to position himself as a protector of women’s interests, suggesting that women will be shielded from danger and fear if he is elected.
Moreover, Trump has hinted that, should he win, there would be no further cause for women to be concerned about abortion rights—an issue significantly impacted by his appointment of three Supreme Court justices, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
In addition to events in Detroit, Trump is scheduled to deliver an economic speech in Chicago and hold a rally in Atlanta as part of his campaign efforts.
