First Lady Jill Biden and Gwen Walz Spark Up the Volunteer Effort in Traverse City

Minnie Bardenhagen

Staff Writer

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On Oct. 28, first lady Jill Biden and the wife of VP candidate Tim Walz, Gwen Walz, paid a visit to the Traverse City Democratic Campaign Field Office to promote volunteer efforts for the Harris-Walz Campaign. 

 

It was a small gathering of mostly local canvassing volunteers and press where Biden and Walz were hoping to ignite the volunteer effort in the final days of election season. The Harris Campaign, in this small final stretch, is targeting undecided voters and eligible voters who may not show up to the polls.

 

While ads, rallies, and other campaign strategies can help either candidate, door knocking may be essential to reaching the voter pool that the campaigns need. 

 

“Who’s elected is going to come down to a handful of votes in battleground states like Michigan,” Biden reminded the crowd, "We need you to knock on doors, sign up for volunteer shifts, make sure your friends and your family have a plan to vote early.”

 

Biden gave a brief overview of the key points of the Harris Campaign, such as women’s healthcare, lowering costs for families, and voting for someone with good character. Women’s rights, the topic of a speech she and Walz were set to give at Bay City later that same day, was a point she was sure to emphasize in her pitch to volunteers. 

 

“The stakes of this election couldn’t be more clear to me, because ultimately, this election will profoundly affect women. Our ability to make healthcare decisions, to buy homes, and to put food on our tables,” she explained, “And to live in a country where we celebrate that our differences are precious and our similarities are infinite.”

There’s 8 days to go before the Nov. 5th election, and early voting has already started in Michigan. Michigan, a pivotal swing state, is essentially tied in the polls, according to The New York Times. For information on your registration status, polling locations, and to get a preview of your ballot, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center’s voter registration lookup tool.