Image credits - The Washington Post
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Vice President Kamala Harris made a significant push for union support in critical “blue wall” states this Labor Day, addressing steelworkers in Pennsylvania and making her pitch to laborers in Michigan. This campaign swing is notable as it marks Harris’s first joint event with President Joe Biden since he stepped out of the presidential race and endorsed her candidacy.
Harris’s campaign focused heavily on portraying former President Donald Trump as hostile to workers, highlighting his past actions and policies perceived as detrimental to labor rights. In Detroit, Harris criticized Trump’s record, accusing him of blocking overtime benefits and supporting legislation unfavorable to workers. She emphasized that Trump’s tenure was marked by actions against labor, including appointing individuals hostile to unions and backing so-called right-to-work laws.
In Pittsburgh, Harris addressed U.S. Steel’s potential sale to Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp., echoing Biden’s previous stance on the issue. “U.S. Steel should remain American-owned and American-operated,” Harris asserted, aligning with her campaign’s focus on safeguarding American manufacturing jobs and reinforcing the importance of domestic steel production.
President Biden, who introduced Harris at the event, expressed confidence in her pro-union stance and highlighted her role in supporting middle-class families and union workers during his administration. “Kamala will be a historic pro-union president,” Biden declared to the audience, which included members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, also campaigned in Milwaukee, reinforcing the Democratic ticket’s commitment to labor issues. Walz, a former union member, criticized Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, for their perceived anti-union positions. He asserted that the Harris-Walz ticket stands firmly with workers, contrasting their platform with the Republicans’.
Harris’s Labor Day appearances are part of a broader strategy to consolidate support from union members, who have been pivotal in previous elections. The Vice President’s campaign seeks to capitalize on Biden’s legacy of union support and position Harris as a strong advocate for labor rights amid a challenging election cycle marked by Biden’s unexpected withdrawal.
The push by Harris and Walz reflects a concerted effort to energize labor voters and reinforce their support base as the 2024 election approaches. Their campaign strategy underscores the importance of organized labor in pivotal swing states, aiming to mobilize voters with a clear contrast between their pro-union platform and Trump’s record.