Gretchen Whitmer makes the case for Harris: ‘She knows us’

CHICAGO — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) said Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is looking out for everyday people in a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

“She’s lived a life like ours. She knows us. Donald Trump doesn’t know you at all,” Whitmer said. “Do you think he understands when your car breaks down and you can’t get to work? No!”

Whitmer, who introduced herself as "Big Gretch," said Harris can relate to people who are caring for a parent struggling with illness, mentioning her own situation.

"At 29, I joined the sandwich generation, sandwiched between working and raising my newborn and caring for my mom, who was dying from brain cancer," Whitmer said. "It was hard but not extraordinary. It's life.

"Those nights reminded me who I was fighting for, people just trying to make it. Kamala Harris knows who she's fighting for, too. She took care of her mom, who also battled cancer. As president, she'll fight to lower the cost of healthcare and elder care for every family."

Whitmer went after Trump, rejecting his prior insults of her. The Michigan governor called Trump “that man from Mar-a-Lago,” a reference to when Trump called her “that woman from Michigan.”

“Being a woman from Michigan is a badge of honor,” she said, to applause. “Like women across America, we just G-S-D, get stuff done.”

When rumors of Biden not seeking reelection began to surface, Whitmer was floated as a rising Democratic star who could replace him. Whitmer declared Harris would be “strong enough to come up with a plan, to tell the truth and bring people together” in a crisis.

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“Right now, before the crisis, is when we get to choose,” Whitmer said. “Why wouldn’t we choose the leader who is tough, tested, and a total badass?”

Whitmer, now in her second term, has been at the helm of the Wolverine state, which has seen a Democratic surge. Trump has made four visits to Michigan this year in an effort to court voters in the swing state.