FLINT, Michigan — Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) riffed on former President Donald Trump‘s campaign promise to “Make America Great Again” at his final preelection rally Monday in Michigan.
“I do believe, my friends, that we’re on the cusp of a Golden Age of American prosperity,” Vance told the crowd of supporters in Flint, who held “Trump will fix it signs” as he blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for a migrant crisis at the southern border and the rising cost of living.
“We’re on the cusp of an America where we’re not just energy independent, but we’re energy dominant,” Vance added. “We’re ready to make the American dream of homeownership affordable for millions of young Americans all over the state of Michigan and all over America.”
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Vance’s appeal was tailor-made to Flint, a car manufacturing powerhouse that has faced an exodus of jobs. He and Trump have promised to restore manufacturing through tariffs and lower energy costs, including investments in the auto industry.
“I know that the story of Flint is, unfortunately, the story of way too many communities all across the state of Michigan, and it’s the story of my community in Middletown, Ohio,” Vance said, alluding to his upbringing in the Rust Belt. “Which is that for too long, a generation of American leaders has failed to do their job for communities like Flint, Michigan.”
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Harris, too, has emphasized a revival of the manufacturing industry and has promoted the tens of thousands of jobs created under the Biden administration. However, she is facing anxiety in Michigan as Democrats push to transition the sector to electric vehicles.
Vance’s event in Flint comes as Trump prepares to rally in Grand Rapids late Monday night, where the former president plans to close out his third consecutive presidential campaign.
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However, Vance insisted that he would return to the state as vice president-elect.
“This is a beautiful place to close out the campaign in Michigan,” Vance said at the start of his speech. “I’m sorry to say that this is the last time that I will be in Michigan as a vice presidential candidate. But if we go out and do our jobs tomorrow, I’ll come back as vice president of the United States of America.”
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
