Harris, Trump Barnstorm Michigan, Spar Over Fitness

Democrat Kamala Harris raised questions about Republican Donald Trump’s physical stamina to serve effectively as president.

The two rivals tore through the deadlocked battleground state of Michigan on Friday, with Trump lashing back about his energy
on the campaign trail.

Harris Turns 60 On Sunday

Harris, who turns 60 on Sunday, pressed the case to raise
doubts about the 78-year-old Trump.

President Biden’s Age Was An Issue

Age had been an issue when President Joe Biden, 81, was still in the race, but had faded after he dropped his election bid.

Harris said that news reports that former President Trump was skipping interviews because he was tired, raised questions about his fitness for office.

“It should be a concern. If he can’t handle the rigors of
the campaign trail, is he fit to do the job?” she told reporters.

Trump has skipped some appearances, but his campaign has not
provided reasons.

Trump Claims He Is Not Tired

Trump, talking to reporters as he arrived in Detroit, rejected such talk. “I’ve gone 48 days now without a rest,” he said.

“I’m not even tired. I’m really exhilarated. You know why?
We’re killing her in the polls, because the American people
don’t want her.”

Polls in the election’s most competitive states are
effectively tied with just 18 days remaining until the election.

Trump Unhappy With Negative TV Ads

In a Fox & Friends interview, Trump also griped about
negative television ads on Fox about him.

He  said he would ask Rupert Murdoch, the founder of News Corp and who also launched Fox News, to ensure such ads are not broadcast until Election Day on November 5.

Trump visited a campaign office in Hamtramck, where he heard
praise from the Detroit suburb’s first Muslim mayor, Amer
Ghalib.

He was seeking support from Arab Americans in Michigan disenchanted with Democrats, Harris and Biden over U.S.
support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.

Peace In Middle East Is Possible

“We all ultimately want one thing. We want peace in the
Middle East. It can happen with the right leadership in Washington,” Trump said.

In Oakland County, Harris welcomed members of the Arab
American community to her rally and touted prospects for peace
in the aftermath of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Microphone Issues

In the evening, Trump returned to Detroit, Michigan’s
largest city, for a rally.

On October 10, he had said that the rest of the U.S. would turn into Detroit if Harris won.

There, Trump’s microphone stopped working and the former
president roamed around the stage for some 20 minutes.

The dead-mic incident took place days after Trump stopped
talking and swayed and bopped to his musical playlist at a
Pennsylvania town hall event.

Kamala Harris Speaks In Grand Rapids

Harris, after speaking in Grand Rapids, the heart of more
conservative western Michigan, headed east to Lansing and then
Oakland County, on Friday night.

The Midwestern state has about 8.4 million voters and would
bring the winner 15 Electoral College votes out of the 270
needed to win, which could be a decisive number.

What Is Worrying Democrats?

Harris and Trump are battling fiercely for the state’s Arab American, senior, union and working-class voters.

Public and internal campaign polls show razor-thin margins
for either Harris or Trump in Michigan and other battleground
states. That is worrying Democrats.

Trump won Michigan by 11,000 votes in 2016.

In 2020, Biden beat Trump in the state by 155,000 votes.

Harris is shifting the strategy of her whirlwind campaign to
win over more Republicans and men of all races.

Michelle Obama To Campaign For Harris On October 26

She is also enlisting popular former first lady Michelle Obama, who will campaign for Harris in Michigan on October 26.

“I understand why people are looking to shake things up,”
former President Barack Obama said at an Arizona campaign event in support of Harris on Friday.

Nationally, Harris’ edge has narrowed from a late September
lead of 7 percentage points over Trump to just 3 points,
Reuters/Ipsos polling shows.

Notably, high food and rent prices are still worrying Americans and Trump has amplified fears related to migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

(With inputs from Reuters)