One of the most admired people in the country is coming to Detroit next week for a major political rally that underscores the high stakes in this year’s midterm and gubernatorial election.
First Lady Michelle Obama will be in Detroit Oct. 10 to campaign for the 2014 Democratic ticket. Obama is bringing her star power to help bolster the candidacies of Mark Schauer, the Democratic nominee for governor, and Congressman Gary Peters, the Democrats’ favorite to replace outgoing U.S. Senator Carl Levin.
But Obama’s visit is also part of a larger voter turnout effort she has been engaging in around the country, especially in crucial battleground states that stand to elect Democratic governors, including Wisconsin and Michigan.
The First Lady addressed thousands of the party faithful in Wisconsin on Monday evening, where Republican incumbent Scott Walker is said to be trailing behind Democrat Mary Burke indicating that elections matter to the lives of the electorate.
“We deserve leaders who believe like we do that no matter how our kids start out in life, if they’re willing to work for it, they should have every opportunity to fulfill their boundless promise. They should have every opportunity to get a good education and build a decent life for themselves and an even better life for their own kids. That’s the American Dream we all believe in and that’s what this election here in Wisconsin is all about. That’s what’s at stake,” Obama told a rally at the Wisconsin Center.
Getting the vote out in Detroit is crucial for Democrats who see the city as their largest voting base, even though Detroit’s voter turnout has been low during recent elections, except in presidential campaign seasons. But Democrats hope to change that with the race for governor now in a dead heat and issues like the emergency manager and pensions of seniors affected in Detroit’s bankruptcy process serving as red meat to their base.
The campaign of Schauer, who is hoping to unseat Republican governor Rick Snyder, as polls show the GOP flagbearer is vulnerable just like Wisconsin under Walker, welcomed the news of Mrs. Obama coming to get Detroit voters fired up.
“We’re thrilled to have Michelle Obama in Michigan to campaign with Mark Schauer and Gary Peters. The First Lady is committed to helping get out the vote for Democrats up and down the ticket this November, and we appreciate her support,” said Schauer campaign communication director Zack Pohl. “This will be a great opportunity to highlight the choice voters face in this election. Rick Snyder’s policies might work for the wealthy and big corporations, but they’re not working for the rest of Michigan. Mark Schauer is committed to reversing Snyder’s education cuts, cutting taxes for working families, and building an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy.”
Republican strategist Paul Welday said bringing the First Lady to campaign in Michigan is a big deal because Obama is an effective campaigner and the favorite of the Democratic Party.
“I think she is proven to be a pretty effective campaigner. I think that the Democrats are taking Michigan seriously and they brought in one of their big dogs, Michelle Obama,” Welday said. “If you look at the favorable ratings in the Democratic Party, Michelle Obama is at the top of the list. So the fact that she will come to Michigan shows that they are concerned about Michigan and are willing to pull up all the stops.”
Welday said Republicans have known all along that they are locked in a tight race for governor and a visit by Obama is an indication of where the election is.
“It means we are a in very tight race with the ticket for governor and we are in one of the most important U.S. Senate campaigns in America and all eyes are on Michigan,” Welday said.
“But I think this race will come down to turnout of voters. Whether Michelle Obama has the capability to energize the Democratic base remains to be seen but she is an effective campaigner.”
Democrats have also been banking on the women vote, citing the rape insurance legislation that became law as an example of what they perceived as “attacks on women’s reproductive rights.”
Schauer named Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown as his running mate. Brown has been vocal on issues of reproductive rights challenging GOP lawmakers in Lansing.
Will the First Lady’s visit lock in the women’s vote for Democrats?
“The women vote is very important and it is one that Democrats are making every effort to obtain,” Welday said. “But the truth of the matter is that the gender gap spread is not as wide in Michigan as it is in other states. I think the Democrats are pushing that as much as they can. I think the rape insurance is probably been played out as much as it can be.”
Welday noted that the Snyder campaign should continue to get the governor out across the state talking and sharing his plan for Michigan.
“The governor needs to tell voters of Michigan the reality that has been taking place in the last four years and talk about the consequence of going back to the lost decade. I think Snyder has allowed Schauer to get away with things that are completely bogus,” he said.
But that is not how Lon Johnson, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, feels about Snyder and the GOP regime, branding them as anti-middle class, a designation that is gaining traction with some independent voters.
““We are honored to have the First Lady come to Michigan and highlight how the future of our middle class is at stake here this November,” Johnson said. “Mark and Gary have proven track records of fighting for good jobs, from standing up to save the auto rescue to calling for a higher minimum wage, and they are the only candidates Michigan middle class families can trust. The First Lady has been a tremendous advocate for our middle class families and veterans, and we look forward to having her in Michigan.”
In Wisconsin this week, Obama urged Democrats to come out and vote.
“Because if we don’t show up at the polls this November, then we know exactly what will happen. We can’t pretend like we don’t know. We will see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our health care,” Obama said. “We will see more folks denying that climate change even exists. We will see more votes against immigration reform and raising the minimum wage for hard-working folks.”
She didn’t hesitate in waxing on the issue of reproductive rights either.
“So I don’t want you to be surprised. I want to be very clear: If you think people who work 40 or 50 hours a week shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on earth; if you don’t want women’s bosses making decisions about their birth control; if you think women should get equal pay for equal work; if you want your kids to have quality preschool and the college education they need to fill their potential, then you need to step up. You need to get everyone you know out to vote this November,” the First Lady told Wisconsin voters.
Obama said that the future of children and education is at stake in this election and in Michigan Schauer has accused Gov. Snyder of cutting $1 billion in education, which Republicans deny.
“That’s what’s at stake in this election –- the kind of country we want to leave for our kids and grandkids. See, because those kids are counting on us to stand up for them this November,” Obama said. “These kids have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry to succeed. They are so desperate to lift themselves up. And that’s why we’re here today -– because those kids never give up and neither can we. We cannot give up on them.”
Towards the end her remarks in Wisconsin, Mrs. Obama used a familiar line that has been the hallmark of many successful political campaigns — centering the theme or topic on children and their future.
“So between now and November, we need to be energized for our kids. We need to be inspired for them. We need to pour everything we have into this election so that they can have the opportunities they need to build the future they deserve,” Obama said. “And if we do that, if we all keep stepping up and bringing others along with us, then I know that we can keep on making that change we believe in. I know we can elect Mary Burke as governor of Wisconsin. And I know that together, we can build a better future for all our kids.”
Bankole Thompson is the editor of the Michigan Chronicle. E-mail bthompson@michronicle.com.
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