On Wednesday, August 7th, the presidential campaign teams of both the Democratic and Republican parties faced off in battleground states, vying to attract voters.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly appointed running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, held rallies in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, seeking to win over the crowd. The duo also made a stop at Detroit-Wayne County Airport the same evening.
In the morning, Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Senator Vance of Ohio, delivered a speech outside a police station in Shelby Township, Michigan, focusing on crime and illegal immigration issues. Later that afternoon, Vance held his own event in Eau Claire.
At the Harris-Walz rally in Eau Claire, Walz highlighted his Midwest roots, sharing stories of his upbringing in a small town in Nebraska, his 24-year military career, and experience as a high school teacher and coach. Addressing the crowd, Walz emphasized the importance of caring for neighbors and lending a helping hand when needed.
Vance, on the other hand, emphasized crime and illegal immigration issues in his speech in Shelby Township, specifically mentioning a case of sexual assault allegedly committed by an illegal immigrant in the community who had previously been deported from the United States.
During his visit to Eau Claire, Vance toured the Wollard International manufacturing plant, underscoring the significance of American manufacturing.
Speaking to voters at the heart of American manufacturing, Vance emphasized the importance of producing more domestically, stating, “I am one who believes that it is critically important that we make more things here in the United States.”
Walz contrasted himself with Vance, highlighting his expertise in trap shooting and coaching a high school football team to a state championship, while pointing out Vance’s Ivy League education and work at a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.
Following Walz’s speech, Harris took the stage, promising to ensure that every worker has the freedom to join a union, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
The Vice President referred to herself and her running mate as “happy warriors.”
The Midwest region, especially states like Michigan and Wisconsin, are often seen as crucial for winning the White House with their 15 and 10 electoral votes, respectively. After the Republican victory in these two states in 2016, the Democratic Party narrowly won them in 2020. These states, along with Minnesota and Illinois, are known as the “Blue Wall,” but have become swing states in recent elections.
According to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, Harris leads Trump by 1.7 percentage points in Michigan. Polls show a slight lead for either Harris or Trump in different states, with a survey by Public Opinion Strategies on August 1 showing a tie between the two candidates.
In Wisconsin, Harris also holds a 1.6 percentage point lead over Trump in the polling average. Despite leading in polls by Public Opinion Strategies and Marquette University Law School, a Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll on August 6 showed Harris tied with Trump.
With Harris and Trump neck and neck in the Midwest, Walz’s potential appeal to voters in this region and swing states explains why he may have a higher chance of being nominated for Vice President than Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.