Democrat presidential nominee and vice president Kamala Harris highlighted concerns regarding 78-year-old Donald Trump and his physical stamina to serve as president during her campaign in Michigan on Friday.
“It should be a concern. If he can’t handle the rigours of the campaign trail, is he fit to do the job?” she asked reporters before a rally in Grand Rapids. The question arose particularly after reports indicated he skipped interviews due to fatigue and opted out of a second debate with her.
In response, Trump rejected the allegations, saying, “I’ve gone 48 days now without a rest.I’m not even tired. I’m really exhilarated. You know why? We’re killing her in the polls.” He pointed to polls in competitive states showing the race effectively tied.
On Thursday, Harris accused Trump of ‘gaslighting’ the American people about the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by Trump supporters. Trump recently called the attack ‘a day of love’ during his Univision town hall.
Seeking support from Arab Americans in Michigan disappointed with Democrats, Trump visited a campaign office in Hamtramck. Where the city’s first Muslim mayor, Amer Ghalib praised him for his efforts. Trump emphasised on the need for peace in the Middle East, asserting that it could be achieved quickly with the right leadership.
“We all ultimately want one thing. We want peace in the Middle East. We’re going to get peace in the Middle East. It’s going to happen very fast. It can happen with the right leadership in Washington,” he said.
Later, Trump held a rally in Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, where he reiterated his Detroit statement, he claimed that the US would resemble Detroit if Harris won.
Meanwhile, Harris continued her campaign across Michigan, targeting the state’s Arab-American, senior, union, and working-class voters.
Harris has shifted her strategy to appeal to more Republicans and men, by enlisting former first lady Michelle Obama to join her campaign efforts in Michigan on October 26.
Recent public and internal polls show extremely narrow margins for both candidates in Michigan, a crucial battleground state with 15 Electoral College votes.