On a brisk Halloween evening, President Barack Obama and musician Stevie Wonder joined Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden for a Detroit campaign event on Saturday.
Singer, songwriter, and musician Wonder kicked off the event with a performance at the drive-in rally, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed the crowd.
“We have waited four years for this moment. We have waited four years for us to be able to have control over our fate and we do because the road to the White House goes through the great state of Michigan,” Whitmer said.
The campaign event was a drive-thru rally on Belle Isle Park, and masks were required for entry.
Obama spoke Saturday afternoon to motivate Detroit people to get out and vote for presidential hopeful Joe Biden.
“Three days until the most important election of our lifetime — and that includes mine, which was pretty important,” said Obama, urging Democrats to get to the polls.
The memories of Trump’s win in Michigan and the rest of the Upper Midwest are still in the minds of many Democrats during this closing stretch before Tuesday’s election.
According to a tally by The Associated Press, nearly 92 million voters had already cast ballots nationwide as of Saturday. Tens of millions more will vote by the time polls close on Tuesday night.
During Obama’s afternoon speech, he blasted President Trump.
“If you run for President, and you get elected President, the assumption is you’re going to take the job seriously. … (Trump) hasn’t shown any interest in doing the work, or helping anybody but himself and his friends. Or treating the presidency as anything more than a reality show to give him the attention he craves so desperately,” Obama said.
“But unfortunately, the rest of us have to live with the consequences.”
The crowd agreed with Obama by cheering and roaring— some of whom left their cars and gathered near the stage without social distancing.
During his 25-minute speech, the former President continued to blast Trump for the comments he made in Michigan on Friday. At a rally in Oakland County, Trump said, “doctors get more money if somebody dies from COVID.” Hours later, the American Medical Association President called the comments “malicious, outrageous, and completely misguided.”
“He can’t fathom that somebody would be willing to make sacrifices for others, unless there was some economic motivation,” Obama said.
Later during his speech, Obama criticized Trump’s continued focus on the size of his campaign crowds.
“What is his obsession, by the way, with crowd size? You notice that?” Obama asked. “This is the one measure he has of success. He’s still worried about his inauguration crowd being smaller than mine. It really bugged him. He’s still talking about that.”
“Did no one come to his birthday party as a kid? Was he traumatized,” Obama said.
When Biden took the stage, he nodded to the fact that just hearing the former President speak could be cathartic for Democrats.
“Kind of reminds you how good it can be listening to him, doesn’t it,” Biden said.
The former vice president went on to echo Obama’s remarks, especially when he slammed Trump in stark terms for falsely suggesting doctors make more money when coronavirus numbers are higher.
“He suggested falsely that they’re inflating the number of Covid deaths to make more money,” Biden said. “What in the hell is wrong with this man? Excuse my language, but think about it. It’s perverted.”
Biden added, “He may believe it because he doesn’t do anything other than for money. The people of this nation have suffered and sacrificed for nine months, none more so than the doctors on the front lines and health care workers, and this President is questioning their character? Their integrity? Their commitment to their fellow Americans? It’s more than offensive, it’s a disgrace.”
Later in Detroit, Biden ridiculed Trump for calling himself a “perfect specimen,” called him Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “puppy,” and joked about a New York Times report that showed Trump had spent $70,000 on hair care.
The former President noted that his speech was happening during the Michigan-Michigan State Football game, a heated rivalry where the Paul Bunyan Trophy was “on the line.”
“But this Tuesday,” Obama said. “Everything is on the line.”
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