Vance rallies against Harris, Walz at Michigan campaign event

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) rallied against Vice President Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) while campaigning in Michigan on Wednesday as the two tickets barnstorm battleground states ahead of November. 

Vance spoke to supporters at the trucking company Cordes Inc. in Byron Center, leaning into the issues of inflation and cost of living in a state that will be among a handful that determine the presidency and Senate this fall. Vance also noted recent news that automaker Stellantis is set to cut about 2,500 jobs at its Warren plant. 

But Vance also used his appearance to hit Harris and Walz, calling their ticket and platform “fake.”

“About everything about her campaign is fake. A fake joy that comes from being promoted to a new position instead of using the position you already have to do your job and make the lives of the citizens of this country better,” Vance said. 

“It’s a fake ticket that never earned a single Democrat primary vote,” he continued. “It’s a fake platform that offers no specifics about how to do the peoples’ businesses and a fake promise to change the government, even though she’s been in charge of that very government for almost four years and hasn’t done a damn thing.”

Vance argued that former President Trump’s campaign offered “something very, very different” — “a very real hope” — as the Republican ticket looks to erase the recent gains that Harris and Walz have started to make in states like Michigan. 

During the event, Vance appeared to confuse which position Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, a former Michigan governor, holds. 

Vance was asked what steps, besides drilling, that a Trump-Vance administration would take to lower grocery prices for people, with the reporter noting a relationship between the cost of energy and the cost of groceries. 

A supporter in the crowd could be heard yelling “Fire Granholm!” 

“Well, the first is we’re going to fire — we’re going to fire the Agriculture secretary, right?” Vance said, appearing to mistake her job for that of U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary. “She’s not doing a very good job.”

It’s not the first time Vance has campaigned in the state. He appeared alongside Trump last month during an event in Grand Rapids, Mich. Recent polling has shown a tight contest, with an aggregate of Michigan surveys compiled by Decision Desk HQ showing Harris edging Trump at 48 percent to 46 percent. 

Both Harris and Walz rallied in the state last week during an event in Detroit, which was briefly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.