PORTAGE, Mich. — Vice President Kamala Harris made a campaign stop in Kalamazoo County while the Republican National Convention is in full swing across Lake Michigan.
Air Force Two landed around 1:20 p.m. at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.
The vice president then made a short speech to the crowd inside the Air Zoo before moderating a panel with a former Trump-Pence administration national security official, and a former Republican voter who has a personal reproductive health story.
Watch Harris's appearance here:
Harris is visiting the greater Kalamazoo area as a number of Democratic lawmakers call for President Biden to bow out of the race for the White House. That includes Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, who represents key portions of West Michigan.
The visit comes days after former President Trump was targeted by a gunman during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Law enforcement agencies in Kalamazoo County say they are doing everything to ensure the safety of the vice president and everyone who attends Wednesday's campaign stop.
During the event, Harris made her first public statements on the attempted assassination of the former president.
"I have not had the chance to publicly talk about it, but I will say a few words about the attempt on the life of former President Trump over the weekend. As we all know, it was a heinous, horrible and cowardly act. My husband, Doug, and I are thankful he was not seriously injured. That day, as soon as we saw what was happening, we said a prayer for his well-being. And our thoughts immediately turned to Melania, who we have met, and their family," Harris said.
"The bottom line is that no one should have to fear for the safety of a loved one because they serve in public office. Our heart goes out to the family of Corey Comperatore, a true hero who died protecting his family. And Doug and I are of course holding them close in our hearts. We are also wishing those who were critically injured that day a swift and full recovery. And we are thankful to the United States Secret Service, the first responders and local authorities," the vice president said at the event. "The United States of America, I believe, is the greatest democracy the world has ever known."
After a shooting that shook the nation, Harris said one question in particular needs to be at the top of every American's mind — How can we better engage with one another?
"Just as we must reject political violence, we must also embrace a robust discussion about what’s at stake in this election," she said.
Perhaps most at stake is abortion access. Michigan, a battleground state, enshrined reproductive rights in the state's constitution back in November 2022.
“But all of that goes away with a national abortion ban," stressed U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
That topic took center stage inside the Kalamazoo Aerospace and Science Museum on Wednesday, with two former Republicans sitting alongside the vice president.
That included Olivia Troye, who was a national security official with the Trump-Pence administration. She called herself a "recovering Republican."
Also on stage was Amanda Stratton, a Michigan mother with two young children, one of whom likely wouldn't be here without the help of reproductive freedom.
“My husband and I faced the heart-wrenching challenges of secondary infertility during five miscarriages between the births of our son and daughter," she told the audience.
Both Troye and Stratton said they no longer recognize the Republican Party in which they grew up.
"In this year of our Lord, 2024, [to] have a state of being where the government can tell you what to do with your body," Harris said. "I mean, the most basic of things you should have control over. Everybody better watch out about what other freedoms you’re taking for granted."
All this came in front of a crowd of more than 400 people, including Lisa Reed from Marshall, who was there with her granddaughter.
“It’s really important for young women to have great role models, so that’s why she’s with us," Reed said.
Some experts have speculated this was a test run for Harris to potentially take over the top of the Democratic ticket after Biden's debate performance.
FOX 17 raised that possibility to Kalamazoo County Road Commissioner Keshia Dickason, who was in attendance Wednesday.
“Just hopeful. That’s what I’m going to say. Hopeful," she said. "We’re going to just say that we’re hoping for the best and praying for the rest.”
This is just the first campaign event in West Michigan this week. On Saturday Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, will hold a rally in Grand Rapids. Both events underscore the importance our area has in the 2024 election.
In response to the vice president's visit, the Trump campaign's Michigan branch issued this statement:
"Michiganders will see a sharp contrast between Vice President Harris and J.D. Vance this week quite clearly. Kamala Harris is an out of touch California elite who has wrecked everything she has touched during her tenure as Vice President. Her visit will highlight all the reasons why the Biden-Harris agenda is wrong for Michigan - open borders, skyrocketing inflation, and the destruction of our auto jobs."
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