During the opening night of the virtual Democratic National Convention, Governor Gretchen Whitmer hammered President Donald Trump for what she called a weak coronavirus response.
Governor Whitmer’s short speech followed New York Governor Andrew Cuomo; both are considered leaders by many for their actions in states hit hard by the coronavirus early on.
She said many lives were saved in Michigan as she made an elevator pitch for the Democratic ticket, contrasting the Democrats’ approach with the President’s.
“Rising to the challenge, not denying it. We’ve learned who is essential too. Not just the wealthiest among us. Not a president who fights his fellow Americans rather than fight the virus that’s killing us and our economy," said Whitmer.
Whitmer also underscored former Vice President Joe Biden’s role in the auto bailout—something the Biden campaign is expected to bring up continually until the election.
Her short speech focused on autoworkers, an elevator pitch for former vice president Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris as like-minded Democrats and her own response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“From the jump—we took this pandemic seriously in Michigan. We listened to medical experts, we planned. And, with a lot of help from the autoworkers and too little help from the White House, we executed our plan,” she said.
After being considered by Biden for his running mate, Whitmer was chosen alongside other rising stars in the Democratic party to speak Monday night.