DETROIT — Conspicuously absent from President Biden’s rally in the must-win battleground state the day after his gaffe-riddled NATO press conference were some of Michigan’s leading Democrats, including none of the congressional candidates running in this year’s election.
Appearing before Biden at Detroit’s Renaissance High School on Friday night were Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. They weren’t particularly well-known names.
Idaho Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who denied reports that Biden’s poor performance in last month’s debate cost him the state, was not at the conference. She has often been touted as a possible replacement for the top candidate on the shortlist. The governor is reportedly busy in Idaho for the Sun Valley Conference, a financial summit that brings together tech moguls and prominent business leaders.
Also absent were Curtis Hertel Jr. and Elissa Slotkin, two Democratic congressional candidates expected to face tough battles. Hertel, who is running for Congress in a Lansing-area district, has remained silent about the Biden campaign since the night of the disastrous presidential debate.
Slotkin, the Democratic Senate candidate, recently told donors that Biden’s campaign was possible only because outgoing Sen. Debbie Stabenow “took a radical step and named a successor,” a subtle criticism of Biden.
Sen. Gary Peters, who expressed confidence this week that Biden would “absolutely” defeat former President Donald Trump and that Democrats would retain control of the Senate, did not appear at Friday night’s rally.
The conspicuous absence of Democrats underscores the turmoil within the state party, which has not offered a unilateral endorsement of the president.
Subtle attacks on Biden from Michigan Democrats have intensified in recent days.
In a cryptic recent tweet, state Attorney General Dana Nessel suggested Biden should “pass the baton” in the same way that 35-year-old soccer player Alex Morgan “accepted it with grace” after being cut from this year’s U.S. Olympic team.
None of the warm-up speakers simply said, “Vote for Joe Biden,” choosing instead to say, “Vote for Democracy” or “Vote for Freedom.”
Those suggesting the crowd vote always say, “Vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”
Ahead of the event, attendees said they expected Biden to perform stronger than he did in last month’s debate.
“I hope he gets better,” Akil, 21, told The Post. “He needs to talk about work and family. I hope he gets better there.”
“I agree that family is key and how he can improve our homes and our daily lives,” added Usher, 20. Both are Michigan College Democrats.
After the rally, most attendees said the president’s election results were “much better” than they had been during the debate, and they fully expect the president to win the November election.
However, the most common theme across the room was not support for the president, but loathing of Donald Trump.
“Flush his ass down the fucking toilet,” former union road worker George Evans told The Post. “Feel free to quote me: Biden is the only choice for working Americans. There’s no other option.”
Anti-Israel activists protested Biden’s support for the Jewish state outside the venue. “Biden, Biden, what are you saying? How many children have you killed today?” one person shouted into a megaphone. A woman at the venue interrupted Biden’s speech, chanting “Liberate Palestine,” but was removed by security.
Campaign officials said Biden has no other public appearances scheduled in Michigan this month.
