Vice President Kamala Harris' support for electric vehicles (EVs) could hurt her chances in the key battleground state of Michigan.
Jimmy Keady, founder and president of JLK Political Strategies, told Fox News Digital: “As the Republican Party begins to embrace unions and labor, we're seeing a dramatic shift in voting behavior in Rust Belt countries.'' ” he said.
The comments come as former President Donald Trump's prospects in Michigan have continued to improve in recent weeks, with Trump currently holding a narrow 0.9 percentage point lead in the state, according to Real Clear Politics polling averages. It was served under the condition of preservation.
Based on a historical perspective on polling averages, this lead represents a roughly 3-point swing in the race since late August, when Harris held a 2.2-point lead over the former president.
The current FOX News Power Rankings rank Michigan as the top state for presidential elections.
FOX News power rankings: Harris loses lead, new voters emerge
vice president kamala harris (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
Part of the reason for President Trump's recent increase in approval ratings in the state is due to working class and union concerns that the push for electric vehicles could put many workers out of work in the not-too-distant future. This may be due to voter support.
“I think Harris is hurt by the Biden-Harris agenda on policies that don't work for the working class,” Michael Markey, a former Republican Michigan House candidate and financial advisor, told Fox News Digital. spoke.
The Trump campaign is leaning into this argument, releasing an ad earlier this month warning Michigan voters about Democrats' support for EVs.
“Attention autoworkers: Kamala Harris wants to eliminate all gas-powered cars,” the ad read. “It’s crazy but it’s true!”
Markey believes this message is getting through to Michigan voters, arguing that the issue is one of the reasons Trump and the Republican Party have gained strength in the state.
Michigan Democratic Party launches anti-EV ads ahead of Senate race after bipartisan vote against mandate
“This is a slap in the face to trade unionists,” he said. “I think that’s why a lot of the polls are trending in favor of Republicans right now.”
Harris sought to refute that theory, insisting at a rally in Flint, Michigan, earlier this month that she would “never” mandate “the kind of cars you have to drive.”
Former President Trump speaks at a rally in Uniondale, New York on September 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Despite this, Republicans continue to criticize Harris for both her support for the Biden administration's emissions regulations, push for EV phasing in new cars, and heavy subsidies for EV production in the United States. They also point to Harris' plan during her 2020 presidential campaign to transition all new cars manufactured in the United States to zero-emissions by 2030.
“They're saying… 'Nobody's going to force you or tell you what kind of car you can drive,' but they're putting in place standards through the EPA that basically mandate the production of EVs. ” Markey said.
Markey argued that Michigan workers have a long history of working at the cutting edge of the auto industry and don't want to see jobs lost to a product that has no profit or consumer demand.
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“The public is telling us what the next generation of cars will be,” Markey said. “They still want internal combustion engines, they still want hybrids, but EVs…the general public is not there.”
Keady argued that all of this could be a problem for Harris in places like Michigan, where Democratic candidates are up against traditional blue-voting blocs such as labor unions.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the media before boarding the Second Air Force after assessing the Hurricane Helen recovery response in Charlotte, North Carolina, Oct. 5, 2024. (Tama Mario/Getty Images)
“The Teamsters' refusal to endorse is the first sign that Mr. Harris is in trouble with union members,” Keady said. “It's not just the Biden-Harris administration's manufacturing policies that are hurting Michigan workers. Their embrace of electric vehicle mandates will place an unfair burden on middle-class families. Dew.”
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Asked for comment, a Harris campaign spokesperson referred Fox News Digital to the vice president's latest comments on the issue at the Flint rally.
“And, Michigan, let me be clear: Contrary to what my opponent suggests, I will never tell you what kind of car you have to drive,” Harris said at the time. . “But here's what I'll do: I'll invest in the auto industry and communities like Flint that helped found the UAW. I'll renovate existing factories, hire locally, work with unions, and pay more. “Creating high-paying jobs, including low-paying jobs'' requires a college degree.''
