Warren, Mich. — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., received a boost to his campaign with the official endorsement of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards when Obama made his first visit to Michigan. Edwards announced he would endorse Obama during his speech at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids shortly after Obama made his entrance to cheers and wild applause.
“Brothers and sisters, we must come together as Democrats” to defeat McCain. “We are here tonight because the Democratic voters have made their choice, and so have I,” Edwards said.
Obama, who visited Warren and Grand Rapids stopped at a Chrysler stamping plant in Sterling Heights before coming to Warren, where he commented on how the state of the economy has made the job market harder for autoworkers in Detroit.
“It’s time to recapture the spirit of innovation that has always fueled America’s economic success,” Obama said in his speech.
Obama opposed the ideas of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for creating new jobs. He emphasized making sure automobiles are made “right here in Michigan” instead of overseas, and that these vehicles are equipped with affordable, fuel-efficient components.
“I won’t stand here and tell you that we’ll be able to stop every job from going overseas or bring every job back,” Obama said. “But I will tell you that we can end the Bush-McCain policy of giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas.”
Last week, McCain, visited Oakland University in Rochester to discuss issues of human trafficking, religion and child sex crimes.
Obama explained that it was not his choice to wait this long to visit Michigan.
“It wasn’t my choosing,” he said. “We play by the rules.”
Brad Wilson, an MSU alumnus, came to the rally to represent the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. He said Obama covered much of what he was hoping the senator would speak about: green jobs, gas prices and fair health care.
“He knows what’s going on and he has the ability to fix it,” Wilson said.
As far as getting young voters to turn up at the booths for the November election, Wilson said he is confident Obama has the necessary amount of attention from the youth demographic.
“He’s already proven that he can bring out the young folks,” Wilson said. “He’s already had an overwhelming turnout for the primaries, and I’m very excited that he’ll do the same in November.”
Detroit resident Claire Neal said she believes that Obama understands the hardships of blue-collar America.
Neal, a member of a grassroots Democratic Barack Obama organization, said she does not think Obama will have trouble relating to middle-class America, despite claims made by his opponents.
“His experiences have been cross-cultural and cross-economic,” Neal said. “This includes working white America.”
On the other side of the state, MSU students also went to see Obama speak Wednesday evening at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
Arts and humanities sophomore Emily Smith, who traveled from Petoskey, said she believes in what Obama promises.
“He can bring the change we need in our country,” said Smith, a member of Students for Barack Obama MSU chapter. “He’s a really true person.”
After the speech in Grand Rapids, Smith said she felt optimistic about the relationship between Edwards and Obama.
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“Both of them are working on getting America back on track,” she said.
Smith also appreciated that Obama was respectful in regards to Hillary Clinton.
“He didn’t say anything bad about her,” Smith said. “It shows that he’s a good sport.”
While many residents support all that Obama stands for, some remain skeptical until the senator’s goals are put into action.
“I want to hear what he actually plans on doing,” said Mike Cieslak, who attends Macomb Community College for science and automotive supply chain management.
In regards to the November election, Obama made his intentions for America’s future clear.
“It’s a choice between more of the same failed Bush policies that have done nothing but to harm American manufacturing during the last eight years, and real change that will help write a new chapter in the story of American manufacturing,” Obama said.
Other issues discussed in a question-and-answer panel in a public forum were veteran’s benefits and goals for the educational system in the United States.
Next week, Obama will travel to Florida to continue to reach out to voters in crucial voting states.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who won the West Virginia primary Tuesday, has yet to visit to Michigan during the primary race.
Both Obama and Clinton seek extra voter support after scheduling issues caused some Democratic candidates to be absent from the Jan. 15 Michigan primary ballot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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