Whitmer focuses on policy at NAACP event

(The Center Square) – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended President Joe Biden at this week's NAACP Convention in Las Vegas amidst growing calls across the party for him to drop out of the race.

The contrast is notable.

The governor is a top name floated in the Democratic Party as a replacement for the president, even alongside her outward support for him. As a Biden campaign co-chairwoman, she instead focused on how the president’s policies have impacted Black communities.

“We know that this is an especially important, hard, dark time in our electoral politics,” she said. “They try to focus on tearing us apart from social media to political division, but we’ve got to remember, we must stay focused.”

The speakers in Las Vegas this Wednesday not only had to defend the president’s policies, but also his health, and avoid overly critical comments toward Trump, who faced an assassination attempt last weekend. Biden spoke during the convention on Tuesday at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, shortly before taking ill with COVID-19 and returning to the East Coast.

Whitmer mentioned fiscal policies during her 10-minute speech, such as affordable housing, senior citizen benefits, and her favorite – fixing the roads.

“Something I've been saying to people as I get around the country on behalf of the president, or even telling the story of Michigan to give some people some inspiration is I know this, you cannot physically roll up your sleeves if you're wringing your hands,” Whitmer said. “We've got work to do, but we're up to meet this moment.”

As Whitmer continues to campaign for Biden’s reelection, she faces mounting pressure from both parties.

High officials in the Democratic Party, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, have called for Biden to drop out of the race, with Whitmer’s name touted as a replacement. On the conservative side, the Trump campaign initiated a lawsuit against the governor relating to voter registration .

While Whitmer was away from her home state, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Portage, Mich., to discuss abortion rights. Trump and his new running mate J.D. Vance , a senator from Ohio, will visit Grand Rapids for a campaign rally Saturday evening.