U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Democratic vice presidential nominee, spoke at events in Taylor and Warren, Mich. on Sunday, visiting the state just nine days away from the presidential election.
According to an average of polls from Real Clear Politics, Clinton is currently projected to win Michigan by seven points.
Michigan Sens. Gary Peters (D) and Debbie Stabenow (D), as well as U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D–Dearborn), also attended the event in Taylor, which was hosted by the 1A region of the Union of Auto Workers.
Kaine’s Taylor rally focused in part on FBI director James Comey’s Friday letter to Congress, which stated the FBI is looking into additional emails that may be tied to a previous investigation into Clinton’s use of a private server for email during her time as Secretary of State, found during a separate inquiry into former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). Weiner is married to Clinton campaign aide Huma Abedin. In July, Comey told Congress he was closing the investigation into Clinton’s use of the server and it would not result in any criminal charges.
Kaine said Sunday that despite Friday’s announcement, he remains confident that no prosecutor would press charges, adding that Clinton supporters have not been deterred by the letter.
“The FBI’s recent letter has actually revved up people,” Kaine said. “We have record voter registration this cycle. The Trump campaign wants people to be distracted and not vote because he knows that’s the only way he can win. I can tell you folks this: nobody is distracted.”
In an interview prior to the event, Peters declined to speculate about what motivated Comey’s decision to send the letter, and said it was important for the FBI to clarify their position.
“I think it is imperative, given the unprecedented nature of releasing information pertaining to an investigation publicly — in particular a few days out of an election — that the FBI release the remaining emails so the public can see what is in them and clear up any remaining concerns,” Peters said
Speaking before Kaine took the stage, Peters emphasized Clinton and Kaine’s values to a crowd of about 150.
“Both Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine over the course of the past few months and during the debates have proven themselves to be the leaders we deserve,” Peters said. “This is in clear contrast with their opponents, who have built their campaign on dividing people. Clinton and Kaine will truly live up to their motto of ‘Stronger Together.’ ”
During his speech in Taylor, Kaine also discussed the Clinton campaign’s economic policies, outlining their four-pillar plan. He highlighted in particular the campaign’s plan to invest in manufacturing, infrastructure and research, improve education, raise wages and close corporate tax loopholes. During his speech later later that night in Warren, Kaine addressed similar economic concerns to a crowd largely made up of UAW workers.
In Taylor, Kaine said the campaign’s economic plan would grow the economy and more equitably distribute its benefits.
“Many economists are in agreement that our economic policies would grow the economy by adding 10 and a half million jobs by the end of the first year,” Kaine said, prompting applause from the crowd. “The Trump plan, in contrast, is estimated to shrink the American economy by three and a half million jobs.”
In Taylor, Kaine also emphasized that the results of the early and absentee voting are trending positively for the Clinton campaign, noting he has a proven record of success in elections.
“In states with robust early and absentee voting we are seeing good results so far,” Kaine said. “The turnout has been tremendous, in particular, in states that we are targeting like Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina … The good thing for us is that I don’t lose elections, even though I don’t win by a lot.”