WRIGHT TOWNSHIP, Mich. — One day after taking part in the final debate of the 2024 Presidential campaign, JD Vance returned to campaign in West Michigan.
The senator from Ohio held a campaign rally at Berlin Raceway on Wednesday.
Watch the full rally below:
Vance discussed inflation, the economy and how he and GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump will lower inflation, allowing voters to “keep more of their hard-earned paychecks.”
"Donald Trump and I are ready to lead a great American manufacturing renaissance. We're going to make more in America," Vance told a packed crowd in Ottawa County.
This is Vance's seventh time campaigning in Michigan.
"It's a beautiful fall day in the state of Michigan, and I hate to say it as a Buckeye; you guys have got one of the most beautiful states in the union," Vance added.
During his 45-minute speech, he made sure to tell his supporters to get out and vote in any way possible.
"If you're able to vote early, vote by mail; take advantage of what's out there for you," Vance explained.
Many people are still deeply concerned about the 2020 election. At the debate, Vance did not answer the question about Trump losing the election.
FOX 17 asked what Vance has to say to both the Republicans and Democrats who are the township clerks, the city clerks, the county clerks and state clerks who are saying they are providing a secure and fair election.
"Well, what I would say to them is that part of the reason that people are skeptical of our elections is, frankly, a lot of national policy makers not doing their job," he explained.
Other than the election, Vance talked about the economy and manufacturing. He added that voting for Democratic presidential nominee Kamla Harris would take the country in the wrong direction.
"You hear [Harris] say this. On day one, she'll say, 'We're gonna make groceries more affordable.' On day one, she'll say, 'We're gonna secure that Southern border.' And every one of us is sitting there saying, 'Kamala, day one was 1,400 days ago,'" Vance said.
The auto industry is on the minds of many here in Michigan, including Vance.
"I talked to the leaders of Ford. I talked to the leaders of other car makers too. And you know what? They tell me that the electric vehicles are sitting on the lot for four or five times longer than the gas-powered cars," he added.
Significant investments have been made over the past few years. The Biden administration awarded GM a $500 million grant to convert an existing Cadillac car plant to an electric plant. One reporter asked if a Trump and Vance administration would honor this grant or pull back.
"The $500 million grant came along with some really ridiculous strings and no protections for American jobs not getting shipped to foreign countries because a lot of not just the cars themselves but the battery components, the minerals... this stuff is all produced in China," Vance answered.
General admission tickets for Vance's visit to Marne were limited to two per person on a first-come, first-served basis.
The event was the second of two campaign stops in Michigan for Vance. He also held a rally in Auburn Hills in the afternoon.
Vance's stop came shortly after his performance in Tuesday night's nationally-televised debate with Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz.
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More campaign events are scheduled for Michigan this week. Republican nominee Donald Trump will hold a rally in Saginaw on Thursday. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is scheduled to appear in Detroit and Flint on Friday.
Well-traveled campaign trail in Michigan
Michigan has been a hot ticket for both campaigns. Here's a look at the political events in the state since mid-July.
Former President Donald Trump rallied supporters in Walker on September 27. His event was the target of a false bomb threat.
Republican Vice President nominee JD Vance held a rally in Sparta on September 17. He spoke exclusively with FOX 17 during his visit.
Watch the complete interview here:
Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz held several events in Grand Rapids and Lansing on September 12 & 13. Walz also spoke exclusively with FOX 17 during his stop in West Michigan.
Watch the full interview below:
Walz's wife met with Democratic volunteers in Grand Rapids on September 4.
Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump held a rally in Potterville on August 29, the same day Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, appeared at a event in Grand Rapids.
Two days before that Vance held a rally outside Big Rapids.
During the Democratic National Convention on August 20, Trump rallied in Howell.
On August 14 Vance appeared in Byron Township.
Vance also held a press conference outside the Shelby Township Police Department on August 7. Harris and Walz both appeared at a rally at the Detroit Metro Airport the same day, then met with union members from Ford Motor Company the next morning.
The largest event so far in West Michigan came just a week after the assassination attempt on Trump. The former President held his first rally with his VP pick in Van Andel Arena with thousands turned away at the doors.
During the Republican National Convention on July 17, Harris held a campaign event in Kalamazoo.
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