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Jill Biden makes campaign stop in Lansing

October 30, 2020
Dr. Jill Biden speaks out about topics being discussed in the presidential debate. Multiple speakers were in attendance at the Canvass Launch held at the Michigan Education Association. Shot on Oct. 29, 2020.
Dr. Jill Biden speaks out about topics being discussed in the presidential debate. Multiple speakers were in attendance at the Canvass Launch held at the Michigan Education Association. Shot on Oct. 29, 2020. —
Photo by Lauren DeMay | The State News

Jill Biden launched a canvass in Lansing on Thursday to energize volunteers and supporters heading into the final days of the election.

The event was hosted in support of Jill Biden's husband and the Democrat candidate for the presidential election, Joe Biden.

"Again and again, he tells us a story ... that truth doesn’t matter, that decency doesn’t matter, that our voices don’t matter," Jill Biden said. "... We aren’t divided. We’re just trying to survive the chaos of Donald Trump’s America."

Her 10-minute speech thanked volunteers for their hard work and emphasized the critical role Michigan plays in deciding the next president, according to an email from the campaign.

Among key points, Jill Biden illustrated her view for America under a Biden presidency, seeking to draw a contrast between him and Trump.

“You pick up your morning coffee and you pick up your morning paper, and the headline is not about some late-night tweet storm,” she said. “... When those anchors on those TV stations cut to the President of the United States, you don’t turn the channel."

Jill Biden made reference to the rocky relationship between Trump and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“Just look at how he has treated your governor,” Jill Biden said. “It’s unbelievable.”

Trump's rally in Lansing on Tuesday prompted calls on Whitmer to open up the country and send children back to school, prompting chants from the crowd to "lock her up."

Though Trump chose not to address the comments, stating his words would end up twisted, an Oct.17 rally in Muskegon, Michigan, saw him responding to similar chants stating "lock them all up."

Biden was preceded by Senator Gary Peters, who is currently fighting a tight race against Republican John James for his seat in the US Senate, and Michigan Education Association member Tonya Jamison.

“I’m committed to sending Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House because everything I care about is on the line,” Jamison said. “I need our next president to recognize the role that unions play in supporting families...to protect unions and support union members in their fight for fair wages ... to value fair and equal access to education."

Jamison said that she believes Joe Biden is undoubtedly that leader.

Joe Biden is currently leading President Trump by about 8 points in Michigan.

In comparison, Hilary Clinton led Trump by around 7 points at this time in 2016. 

According to the campaign email, the Michigan campaign has reached millions of voters across the state and averaging more than 15,000 conversations with voters every single day.

In Lansing, 35,00 have received their ballots and more than 25,000 (75%) have already been returned.

Three early voting sites are currently running in the city, the email states. The locations include the Clerk's office at Lansing City Hall, the Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center and the Elections Unit at 2500 South Washington St.

The Elections Unit will be open from 10 am-10 pm in addition to regular hours on Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1.

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In addition to Jill Biden, Douglas Emhoff — husband of vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris — Magic Johnson and Pete Buttigieg have campaigned in the Lansing area urging Michiganders to vote early, the email states.

Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama will visit Michigan Saturday ahead of the campaign.

Voters have until Election Day Nov. 3 to cast their ballots.

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