Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is appearing with his former boss, former President Barack Obama, in two drive-in rallies in Michigan on Saturday as his campaign makes its final appeal to Black voters ahead of Election Day. This marks the first time Obama and Biden are campaigning together in the 2020 election.
Biden and Mr. Obama are appearing together at a rally in Flint in the early afternoon, followed by an event in Detroit later in the day. Musician Stevie Wonder will perform at the event in Detroit.
Mr. Obama told the crowd in Flint that there were only “three days until the most important election of our lifetimes.” He called Biden his “brother,” and said his former running mate “will be a great president.”
He made me a better president. He’s got the character and the experience to make us a better country,” Mr. Obama said.
Mr. Obama also slammed President Trump for his response to the coronavirus pandemic, and mocked Mr. Trump for being preoccupied with crowd size at his campaign events.
“Does he have nothing better to worry about? Did no one come to his birthday party when he was a kid? What’s with the crowd size?” Mr. Obama wondered.
The former president also urged people to vote, saying “we got a little complacent in the last election.” Mr. Obama talked about the importance of downballot races, from congressional races to local district attorney races.
“That’s what voting‘s about. Not making things perfect, but making things better,” Mr. Obama said.
How to watch Biden and Obama rally in Michigan
- What: Former Vice President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama rally in Michigan
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2020
- Time: 1:45 p.m. ET in Flint; 5:30 p.m. ET in Detroit
- Location: Flint and Detroit, Michigan
- Online stream: Live on CBSN in the player above or on your mobile streaming device
Biden will need to perform well in these predominantly Black areas if he is to win Michigan, four years after Mr. Trump narrowly carried the state.
In 2016, the counties that include Flint and Detroit saw a significant drop in turnout, MI Live reported. The overall Black voter turnout that year decreased for the first time in 20 years, according to the Pew Research Center.
A New York Times/Siena College poll released this week showed Biden up eight percentage points in Michigan.
Meanwhile, President Trump will be appearing at events in several towns in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Biden will travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday and Monday. Senator Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, will be in Florida on Saturday.
