Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz worked the campaign trail on Labor Day with scheduled stops in three swing states to appeal to union voters — with an assist from President Biden.
Harris started the day with a visit to Detroit, Mich., with hopes of galvanizing United Auto Workers members by thanking UAW leaders including boss Shawn Fain for his support, then told a cheering crowd the entire nation owes organized labor for improving working conditions for all Americans — which includes not having to work on Labor Day.
“Everywhere I go I tell people, ‘Look, you may not be a union member, but you better thank a union member for the five-day work week,’” Harris said to thunderous applause. “You better thank a union member for sick leave. You better thank a union member for paid leave. You better thank a union member for vacation time.”
The union voted to endorse Harris on July 31.
After leaving the Motor City, Harris headed to Pennsylvania to team up with President Biden and make her case in Pittsburgh, where they addressed union members at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall following the city’s Labor Day parade.
Other than briefly sharing the stage at the Democratic National Convention last month, it was the first time the president and vice president campaigned together since Biden announced he wouldn’t run for the White House six weeks ago.
Biden, who was greeted with chants of “thank you, Joe,” introduced Harris and told the crowd she was the only “rational” choice for president, adding that voting for her would be “the best decision you will ever make.”
The 82-year-old Democratic leader cleared the way for Harris to be his successor by announcing in July he wouldn’t pursue a second term in office. The president and vice president are expected to appeal to the United Steelworkers union by voicing opposition to U.S. Steel’s plan to sell to a Japanese company.
While Harris courted wrench-turners in Michigan, Walz headed to Milwaukee, Wisc., for Laborfest, which celebrates the labor movement in that pivotal Midwestern state won by Trump in 2016, but taken back by the Democrats in 2020.
Glen Stubbe /Star Tribune via AP
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz visits the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday. (Glen Stubbe /Star Tribune via AP)
Their Republican counterparts, Donald Trump and JD Vance, didn’t announce any big plans to start the week.
Trump plans to be in Nevada Thursday, followed by a visit to North Carolina Friday. The 78-year-old GOP presidential nominee for the third consecutive time won North Carolina in 2016 and 2020, but polls indicate the state is very much in play come November. North Carolina begins sending out mail-in ballots Friday.
It’s been 20 years since Nevada went red in a presidential election. Trump hopes to appeal to Las Vegas hospitality workers with his plan to eliminate taxes on tips. His opponent also likes that idea.
The former president attacked Harris with a gloomy social media message to laborers Monday.
“Happy Labor Day to all of our American Workers who represent the Shining Example of Hard Work and Ingenuity,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Under Comrade Kamala Harris, all Americans are suffering during this Holiday weekend — High Gas Prices, Transportation Costs are up, and Grocery Prices are through the roof.”
Vance plans to make a couple of stops in Arizona, which is also likely be hotly contested, toward the end of the week.
Polling indicates the presidential race will be very close. A Trafalgar Group report published over the weekend showed the Republican ticket enjoying thin leads over Harris and Walz in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Arizona. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published before the start of the Labor Day weekend showed the Democrats holding a 4-point lead over Trump and Vance.
Harris and Trump plan to have the only debate on their schedule so far on Sept. 10. Walz and Vance are slated to square off in New York City on Oct. 1.
With News Wire Services
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