Michelle Obama rallies for Harris in Michigan

“If we don’t make the right choices, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we women will become collateral damage of your anger,” Obama said. “So as men, are you willing to look the women and children you love in the eye and tell them you support this attack on our security?”

The Kalamazoo rally was Obama’s first appearance on the campaign trail since she spoke at the Democratic National Convention over the summer, and her remarks were searing and passionate, reaffirming her support for Harris.

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

Obama added: “Don’t be fooled by the lies that we don’t know who Kamala is and what she represents. He is someone who understands all of you.”

Although Obama has been a reluctant activist for years, she showed no hesitation on Saturday as her speech ranged from the political to the personal. Obama said she fears for the country and struggles to understand why the presidential race is still close.

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

In a voice vibrating with emotion, Obama spoke about women’s struggle to understand and care for their bodies, whether it’s menstrual cycles or menopause. She also spoke about the dangers associated with childbirth, when a split-second decision can mean the difference between life and death for the mother and her child.

“I am asking you all from the bottom of my heart to take our lives seriously,” Obama pleaded.

Harris took the stage after Obama and promised the audience that she would have their interests in mind – unlike Trump, whom she accused of only being interested in himself.

“Our country longs for a president who sees people, and not just looks in the mirror all the time, but sees people who will get you and who will fight for you,” she said.

After the rally, Harris went to Trak Houz Bar & Grill with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, where they drank locally brewed beer.

“I want to have what she has,” Harris said.

Politicians talked and took photos with people at the bar. As they approached a table full of young women, one of them burst into tears.

Before arriving in Kalamazoo, Harris visited a local doctor’s office in Portage to talk to health care providers and medical students about the impact of abortion restrictions. One said she was receiving visits from patients from other parts of the country where there are strict restrictions on abortion, and another expressed concerns that people would not want to pursue careers in important medical fields due to fear of government interference.

“We are looking at a health care crisis in America that is affecting people regardless of background and gender,” Harris told reporters before a visit to the doctor’s office.

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

That’s a level of celebrity influence that dwarfs anything achieved by Trump, the Republican Party nominee, this year. But there’s no guarantee he’ll help Harris in a tight race for the White House. In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost to Trump despite whipping up crowds with musical performances and Democratic allies.

Trump rejected Harris’ attempt to use star power in her campaign.

“Kamala is at the dance party with Beyoncé,” the former president said Friday in Traverse City, Michigan. On Saturday, Trump held a rally in Novi, a suburb of Detroit, before a later event in State College, Pennsylvania.

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

When Clinton ran against Trump, Michelle Obama inspired Democrats with the slogan “when they go low, we go high.”

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

While Harris was with Obama in Michigan, President Joe Biden visited the Laborers International Union of North America in Pittsburgh. He mentioned that Harris once took part in a picket with the United Auto Workers – “she has a backbone like a ramrod” – while Trump was weakening organized labor.

“He sees unions as an obstacle to individual wealth accumulation,” Biden said. “It is in the interest of the Labor Party to defeat Donald Trump, more than in any other race you have been in.”

Biden’s remarks, addressed mainly to a male audience, referred to the gender divide, which has been a constant feature of this year’s presidential campaign.

Commenting on Trump, Biden said: “Let me tell you right now: he is a loser as a man.”

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

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

Madhani reported from Pittsburgh and Megerian reported from Washington.