Kamala Harris/ Liz Cheney/ Trump rally Michigan/ Wisconsin election/ 2024 presidential campaign/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Liz Cheney will campaign alongside Kamala Harris in Wisconsin on Thursday, as the Democratic candidate aims to attract moderate voters. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is hosting a rally in Michigan, with both candidates targeting crucial “blue wall” battleground states ahead of the election.
Cheney Joins Harris in Wisconsin as Trump Rallies in Michigan: Quick Looks
- Liz Cheney Campaigns with Harris: Former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney is set to campaign alongside Kamala Harris in Wisconsin, aiming to sway moderate and independent voters.
- Trump’s Rally in Michigan: Donald Trump will hold a rally in Saginaw County, Michigan, a key bellwether in the upcoming election.
- Focus on Battleground States: Both Harris and Trump are targeting “blue wall” states, including Wisconsin and Michigan, which played pivotal roles in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
- Cheney’s Endorsement: Cheney, a staunch Trump critic, previously endorsed Harris, aligning herself with the Democratic candidate despite her conservative background.
Former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney Joins Kamala Harris in Wisconsin Rally
Deep Look
In a notable campaign move, former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney will join Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Wisconsin on Thursday. Cheney, a fierce critic of Donald Trump, aims to help the Democratic candidate reach out to moderate and independent voters, further intensifying the battle for crucial “blue wall” states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Cheney, who was instrumental in the House investigation into the January 6th insurrection, has been vocal in her opposition to Trump. Her role as the top Republican on the committee earned her disdain from the former president and many within her own party. After losing her Wyoming congressional seat to a Trump-endorsed candidate two years ago, Cheney broke from the Republican Party and endorsed Harris for president last month.
The campaign event will take place in Ripon, Wisconsin, a symbolic location tied to the birth of the Republican Party in 1854, which adds another layer of significance to Cheney’s participation. The choice of location is striking, as Harris, a Democrat, campaigns in a historic venue that commemorates the origins of the GOP. The event is designed to reach voters disillusioned with Trump, especially Republicans and independents who remain concerned about the former president’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.
Cheney’s support for Harris is particularly notable given her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, was once a polarizing figure for Democrats during the George W. Bush administration. Now, both Liz and her father are among a group of current and former Republicans who have distanced themselves from the GOP’s embrace of Trump.
Harris’ visit to Wisconsin comes just one day after a federal judge unsealed a 165-page court filing outlining the case against Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and obstruction. With Cheney by her side, Harris aims to capitalize on the renewed scrutiny of Trump’s legal challenges, using it to further galvanize moderate and undecided voters in key battleground states.
The “blue wall” states—Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—are seen as critical for both Harris and Trump in the upcoming election. In 2016, Trump won all three states, helping him secure his path to the presidency. However, Joe Biden reclaimed those states in 2020, which was key to his victory over Trump. Now, both candidates are doubling down on efforts to ensure wins in these states that will likely determine the outcome of the 2024 election.
While Harris continues her campaign in Wisconsin, she will also visit Michigan for a rally in Flint on Friday. Trump, meanwhile, will hold a rally in Saginaw County, Michigan, on Thursday. Saginaw County, known as a political bellwether, narrowly went to Biden in 2020 by a slim margin of 303 votes, which contributed to his overall victory in the state. Trump is looking to reclaim Michigan, holding multiple rallies in the state within the past week.
As both candidates battle for these key swing states, Cheney’s endorsement of Harris could help attract voters who are dissatisfied with Trump but remain unsure about fully aligning with the Democratic Party. Harris’ campaign is working to present her as a more patriotic and stable alternative, particularly to independent and conservative voters who have grown increasingly concerned with Trump’s continued false claims of voter fraud and his refusal to concede the 2020 election.
As the race for the presidency continues to tighten, the upcoming events in Wisconsin and Michigan reflect the importance of these battleground states in shaping the final outcome.
