The Daily Populous Monday October 14th, 2024 night edition
Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by zphotoreddit

In a fiery speech on Friday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized former President Donald Trump's recent comments about the Midwest, particularly his views on manufacturing and cities like Detroit.

"But if the guy were to ever spend any time in the Midwest, like all of us know, [he'd] know Detroit's experiencing an American comeback and renaissance," Walz said during a rally in Warren. "The city's growing. Crime is down. Factories are opening up. But those guys, all they know about manufacturing is manufacturing bullshit," he added.

Walz in Michigan: "Look, I'm a Twins fan, and you whooped our ass ... those guys? All they know about manufacturing is manufacturing bullshit every time they show up." pic.twitter.com/826tP9KTYG — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 11, 2024

The crowd greeted the vice-presidential candidate's remarks with cheers, and the speech quickly went viral on social media. Supporters praised his direct approach and criticism of Trump's policies, with the video widely circulating on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

Tim Walz coming in hot 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/7XGs2KBuTi — Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) October 11, 2024

This speech is the latest in a series of attacks from both Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris against Trump's record on manufacturing—a central theme of the former president's re-election campaign. Their criticisms come at a pivotal moment, as recent polling data shows Trump gaining ground in Michigan, a crucial part of the Democrats' "Blue Wall" in the upper Midwest.

Trump's growing support in Michigan is particularly concerning for Democrats, as he has made gains among blue-collar voters and those in the lower-middle and middle-class demographics. The race remains close in other Rust Belt states, such as Pennsylvania, where Harris faces similar challenges with working-class voters.

What was once considered Harris' most straightforward path to the presidency—winning the "Blue Wall" states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, alongside Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District—has become increasingly difficult. Recent polling shows her slipping behind in Michigan and Wisconsin, raising concerns about her ability to connect with key voter groups.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a campaign event, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Warren, Mich. Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a campaign event, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Warren, Mich. AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

Harris' struggle to resonate with blue-collar workers could become a major obstacle for her campaign. With both Michigan and Pennsylvania known for their unpredictable voting patterns, any loss of support in these critical states could significantly impact the outcome of the 2024 race.

Securing the "Blue Wall" was initially seen as Harris' clearest route to victory, especially given earlier polling that showed her with narrow but steady leads in these states. Historically, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have aligned in their voting patterns since 1988, when Wisconsin supported Michael Dukakis while Michigan and Pennsylvania favored George H.W. Bush.

However, new polling indicates that Trump's campaign is building momentum in these battlegrounds, transforming what was already a competitive race into an even more intense contest.

inuvash255 on October 13rd, 2024 at 18:31 UTC »

Dear Democratic Party: PLEASE KEEP COMING IN HOT

Don't rely on focus testing. Get in there and FIGHT!

Professional_Bug81 on October 13rd, 2024 at 17:00 UTC »

Glad for the link but Newsweek is gonna Newsweek. In the second half of the article they sharply pivot to sounding the alarm on the blue wall being a concern for the Harris campaign.

zphotoreddit on October 13rd, 2024 at 16:47 UTC »

> "But if the guy were to ever spend any time in the Midwest, like all of us know, [he'd] know Detroit's experiencing an American comeback and renaissance," Walz said during a rally in Warren. "The city's growing. Crime is down. Factories are opening up. But those guys, all they know about manufacturing is manufacturing bullshit."