Michelle Obama demonstrates for Kamala Harris in Michigan

Michelle Obama delivered a harsh denunciation of Donald Trump on Saturday in Michigan and challenged voters to support Kamala Harris as the first female president of the United States.

“In every way, she has shown that she is ready,” the former first lady said. “The real question is, as a country, are we prepared for this moment?”

It was Obama’s first appearance on the campaign trail since spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago over the summer, and his comments were forceful and passionate, even vulnerable.

He said he fears for the country and finds it difficult to understand why the presidential race stay close.

“I stayed awake at night wondering, ‘What the hell is going on?’” she said.

His voice vibrating with emotion, Obama warned that Trump’s possible return to the White House would undermine women’s health and reproductive freedom.

“I ask you all from the depths of my being to take our lives seriously,” he said.

The rally in Kalamazoo followed Harris’ visit to a doctor’s office in Portage to speak with health care providers and medical students about the impact of abortion restrictions. One of them said they receive visits from patients from other parts of the country where there are strict limitations on abortion, and another said he worries that people do not want to practice in important areas of medicine for fear of government intrusion.

“We are facing a health care crisis in America that is affecting people of all backgrounds and genders,” Harris told reporters before visiting the doctor’s office.

Meanwhile, President Biden went to a union hall in Pittsburgh to promote Harris’ support for unions, telling the audience to “go with your gut” and “do the right thing.”

Harris appeared with Beyoncé on Friday in Houston, and she He campaigned with former President Obama and Bruce Springsteen. Thursday in Atlanta.

It’s a level of celebrity influence that surpasses anything Trump, the Republican nominee, has been able to achieve this year. But there’s no guarantee that will help Harris in the tight race for the White House. In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost to Trump despite energizing her crowd with musical performances and Democratic allies.

Trump dismissed Harris’ attempt to harness star power for her campaign.

“Kamala is at a dance party with Beyoncé,” the former president said Friday in Traverse City, Michigan. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, held a rally in Novi, a Detroit suburb, on Saturday, during which They once again denigrated Michigan’s largest city.

Saturday is the first day in-person early voting was available across Michigan. More than 1.4 million ballots have been submitted, representing 20% ​​of registered voters.

When Clinton was running against Trump, Michelle Obama inspired Democrats with the slogan “when they go down, we go up.”

But this year, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, he took a more pointed approach. He accused Trump of “doubling down on ugly, misogynistic and racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually improve people’s lives.”

At a campaign event in Pittsburgh, Biden spoke to the Laborers International Union of North America. He mentioned that Harris once picketed with the United Auto Workers (“she has a backbone like a drumstick”), while Trump has undermined organized labor.

“He sees unions as hindering the accumulation of wealth by individuals,” Biden said. “Workers are interested in defeating Donald Trump, more than any other race they have participated in.”

Biden’s comments to a largely male audience referenced the gender divide that has been a constant feature of this year’s presidential race.

Speaking about Trump, Biden said, “I’m going to say straight up that he’s a loser as a man.”

She also said that women deserve more opportunities than they have received in the past.

“They can do anything any man can do, including being president of the United States of America,” Biden said.

Associated Press Superville reporters reported from Kalamazoo, Madhani from Pittsburgh and Megerian from Washington.