Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell stresses that her home state is “purple” ahead of the 2024 election and took note of voters’ concerns about the war in Israel.
“Michigan is a purple state. I can’t always convince people of that,” Dingell told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “I was there in 2015 and 2016.”
Trump won the Great Lake State in 2016, but lost it to Biden 47.84% to 50.62% in 2020. Democrats retain control of both the governor’s office and the legislature.
“We really need to talk about the economy: the jobs that have been created, the type of investments that are being made and show what has been done. We have to show them and remind them of the actions,” he added.
Trump currently holds a 4.8 percentage point lead over Biden in Michigan, according to the latest set of polls from RealClearPolitics.
Generally considered one of the seven most contested states, Michigan has 16 electors in the Electoral College, which Trump lost to Biden 232 to 306.
Dingell also said the ongoing war in Israel is weakening Biden’s prospects in Michigan, which has one of the largest Muslim populations in the country.
Debbie Dingell emphasized that Michigan will likely be in play during the 2024 presidential election. REUTERS
“They are suffering. All of us in this country must understand what is happening in Gaza right now,” she emphasized.
“I can’t tell you the number of families I’ve talked to who have lost entire families, entire families. We have to show some empathy and compassion.”
The Michigan Democrat emphasized her support for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which have been at war since the terrorist group’s bloody surprise attack on October 7.
Biden had largely been a staunch supporter of Israel in the public eye during the early stages of the war. Behind the scenes, he has pushed for greater protection for civilians in the crossfire.
Donald Trump has been outperforming President Biden in a series of contested national and state polls. REUTERS
Recently, he has begun to change his tone somewhat and more strongly urge Israel to minimize civilian casualties.
“I want them to focus on how to save civilian lives. Don’t stop going after Hamas, but be more careful,” Biden told reporters last week.
Dingell, the wife of the late Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), also defended Biden during the GOP impeachment inquiry that focused on her family’s alleged influence-peddling schemes.
“I have spoken to numerous Republicans who have said publicly and calmly: ‘There is nothing there.’ They can’t find anything,” he said.
His comments came shortly after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.S.C.) told the program that “if there was smoking gun, I think we would be talking about it.”
Debbie Dingell emphasized the need for Democrats to talk about President Biden’s economic record. NBC
He also appeared to back first son Hunter Biden’s decision to defy a subpoena to testify this week.
“I think he has the right to say, ‘I’ll do this.’ Be transparent. Make it open. Because I think a lot of people are coming out of this and implying things that aren’t true. And I think we all have the right to know what the truth is,” he said.
Hunter Biden offered to testify publicly, but refused to give a closed-door statement as Republicans had sought.
Now Republicans are considering whether to find him guilty of contempt of Congress, which would refer the matter to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.
At one point in the interview, Dingell also revealed that she is not a supporter of illegal immigration.
“We don’t want illegals. We don’t want other people to come in. We don’t want drugs to cross our border. We need a comprehensive and balanced immigration policy,” she said.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn