On Monday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer made a significant political move by endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
However, the Governor also put out another statement that was very telling.
When asked about her interest in the vice-presidential role, Whitmer firmly responded, “I am not leaving Michigan. I am proud to be the governor of Michigan. I have been consistent. I know everyone is always suspicious and asking this question over and over again … I am not going anywhere.”
In other words, she wants no part in this drama.
Can you blame her?
About four weeks ago, the press told us that videos showing Biden wandering around like a lost puppy were “cheap fakes.”
Whitmer appears to not want to jump into the dram.
Whitmer’s support for Harris was announced just a day after President Joe Biden disclosed that he would not seek reelection. This decision came 107 days before the general election on November 5. Throughout Biden’s campaign, Whitmer served as a co-chairwoman and was a staunch advocate for his presidency, even as others urged him to step aside.
Harris’ campaign has requested vetting materials from potential VPs, including Cooper (NC), Kelly (AZ), Shapiro (PA), Whitmer (MI), Walz (MN) + Pritzker (IL), according to a person familiar. Beshear told CNN he hasn’t been asked to submit info at this point.
— Ken Thomas (@KThomasDC) July 23, 2024
Whitmer is not alone in her endorsement of Harris. Other prominent figures, such as Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, and former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also voiced their support for Harris on Monday. The Michigan Democratic Party’s official X account (formerly Twitter) shared an image endorsing Harris, further emphasizing the party’s collective backing.
In her endorsement statement, Whitmer highlighted Harris’s commitment to key issues that resonate with Michigan voters. “In Vice President Harris, Michigan voters have a presidential candidate they can count on to focus on lowering their costs, restoring their freedoms, bringing jobs and supply chains back home from overseas, and building an economy that works for working people,” she said. Whitmer praised Harris as a former prosecutor and a strong advocate for reproductive freedom, expressing confidence in Harris’s ability to represent and support Michigan.
Whitmer’s endorsement was issued through her Fight Like Hell political action committee. She noted that her support was coordinated with fellow Midwestern governors, including J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Tim Walz of Minnesota, and Tony Evers of Wisconsin. Additionally, Duggan was among 250 Democratic mayors from across the country, including Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, who collectively endorsed Harris as the Democratic Party’s new standard-bearer.
This unified endorsement from key Democratic leaders aims to consolidate party support and present a strong front as they head into the election season. The collective backing of Harris by influential figures like Whitmer, Duggan, and others underscores the party’s strategy to rally behind a candidate who they believe can address the critical issues facing the nation and lead with competence and dedication.
