Trump and Harris stop in the same key state, Michigan

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are moving their duel on Friday to Michigan, one of the most contested states in a breathtaking race for the White House, marked by lively debates around American support for Israel.

A very large number of Arab-Americans reside in this state in the north of the country, bordering Canada.

These voters traditionally tend to support the Democratic candidate in the presidential election but are this year very critical of the Biden administration, of which the Democratic candidate is a part, with regard to the war in Gaza and Lebanon.

In Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, the war in the Middle East is in fact in every conversation.

Marwan Faraj, a 51-year-old American of Lebanese origin, explains to AFP that he has always voted Democratic but that he will turn his back on Kamala Harris who supports “this ethnic cleansing and genocide since day one, with our tax money”.

Biden “ruined everything, and Kamala promises to play the same role”estimates this American who arrived from southern Lebanon at the age of 16 and who runs a medical center.

“We do not want to vote for Trump, because he looks down on us, nor for the Democrats who respected us and who now give weapons to Israel”adds Haider Koussan, also of Lebanese origin and co-owner with his brothers of a small chain of supermarkets.

Michelle Obama as reinforcement

If she has not openly broken with the line of Joe Biden, who gave Israel almost unconditional support, Kamala Harris is well aware that this position could cost her votes in an ultra-close election where every ballot, or almost , account.

The vice-president, who replaced Joe Biden at short notice in the race for the White House less than three months ago, is therefore playing a very delicate role in this state, where she has planned three campaign meetings for Friday.

To convince Michigan voters to support her, Kamala Harris will also be able to rely on strong support: that of former First Lady Michelle Obama, one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, who will be campaigning in the Status October 26.

Opposite, Donald Trump made two appearances on conservative podcasts on Friday, notably before a major campaign meeting in Detroit, a former bastion of the American automobile industry.

A new opportunity for him to continue his all-out attacks against Kamala Harris, insisting that she is “incompetent” and that his coming to power would be a “disaster”.

“Biden is a grossly incompetent man, but here’s the bad news. She’s worse »estimated the former president.

Trump chez McDonald’s

The Republican’s visit to Michigan is an opportunity to detail, according to his campaign team, how “Families have been crushed by inflation, under Kamala’s failed leadership”.

Donald Trump also confirmed that he planned to work at a McDonald’s over the weekend, an unusual stop aimed at mocking the comments of the Democratic candidate who had explained that she had worked there when she was a student.

The economy, immigration and abortion are among the most debated topics in a particularly tense and close election.

18 days before the election, the two candidates are neck and neck in each of the most contested states, the famous « swing states ».

And this, despite a series of unprecedented twists and turns in the campaign: the criminal conviction of Donald Trump, two assassination attempts targeting him and the withdrawal of Joe Biden’s candidacy.

More than 10 million Americans have already voted, including more than three million in those states expected to decide the election, according to data compiled by the University of Florida.

Georgia and North Carolina broke records, including in areas recently affected by the devastating Hurricane Helena.