On election eve in Detroit, voters ponder a 'fresh face' and concerns over the economy

Record ID: 1854163

  • Title: On election eve in Detroit, voters ponder a 'fresh face' and concerns over the economy
  • Date: 4th November 2024
  • Summary: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 4, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF U.S. FLAGS OUTSIDE RENAISSANCE CENTER, HOME OF GENERAL MOTORS HEADQUARTERS BUILDINGS SIGN FOR GENERAL MOTORS VIEW OVER STREET TRAFFIC, CONSTRUCTION MORE OF STREET TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (English) DETROIT RESIDENT, CASTANA KELLOGG, SAYING: "If she [Democrat Presidential Candidate, Kamala Harris] wins, it's exciting for what's to come because a change is happening in America. Because we're a diverse country. So that will be a fresh face for young girls to look up to." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DETROIT PROPERTY OWNER AND HOME GOODS STORE OWNER, RONI ROPHEL, SAYING: "[I am voting for Republican Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump because] economy's horrible. Everything doubled in prices. Food, insurance, utilities, you name it, everything's doubled. So… the migrants, it's horrible, too. You know, people are coming in illegally and just you know. It's not just my opinion. A lot of people. So what else? You know, it's just the feel like the country is not as strong as it used to be." VARIOUS MORE VIEWS OF TRAFFIC, U.S. FLAGS SIGN FOR DETROIT-WINDSOR TUNNEL WITH CANADIAN FLAG IN BACKGROUND ACROSS BORDER STREET TRAFFIC PEDETRIANS MEDIA MORE TRAFFIC MORE PREDETRIANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LAWYER, JED BORGHEI, SAYING: "Who she is right now on the national stage is consistent with who she was as D.A. in San Francisco, as attorney general of California, and ultimately senator from California. You know, but she's law enforcement background. Pragmatic." STREET TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (English) NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LAWYER, SETH GASSMAN, SAYING: "There's anxiety, but there's also a lot of hope. And I think she brought a lot of joy to the campaign that was very much appreciated. And people are very enthusiastic about her and about what she can do for the country." VARIOUS OF CITY STREETS VARIOUS OF DETROIT QLINE TROLLEY VARIOUS OF CITY BUILDINGS VARIOUS MORE OF TRAFFIC, BUILDINGS VARIOUS OF ONE DETROIT GARAGE VARIOUS OF DETROIT PISTONS STREET POSTER SIGN FOR FORMER PISTONS PLAYER, BILL LAIMBEER, STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGIA CAR DETAIL WORKER, JAMES LEE, SAYING: "As far as, you know, politicians and the whole rap thing, I'm not really feeling it. I feel like it's a joke. I feel like it's a joke because it's two different areas. Like the rapping with the campaign is throwing me completely off. They should keep it political, they should keep it real political instead of putting rappers in it because that just don't work." VARIOUS OF SIGNS FOR DETROIT AND TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN PEDESTRIANS VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK SIGN FOR DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP TRAFFIC
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2024 17:35
  • Keywords: 2024 election Detroit GM General Motors Kamala Harris Michigan US Flag
  • Location: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
  • City: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA001705704112024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Fall and strong winds finally arrived in Detroit Monday (November 4) as the Motor City was getting ready on the morning before Election Day.
    Early voting concluded on Sunday (November 3) night, and some three million Michiganders have already submitted their ballots either in person or via mail, according to local media reports. And city streets were notieceably missing signs for voting centers.
    But the election was top of mind for Michiganders downtown.
    "If she wins… it's exciting for what's to come because a change is happening in America," said Detroit resident, Castana Kellogg. "Because we're a diverse country. So that will be a fresh face for young girls to look up to."
    Along with fellow rust belt states Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Michigan has been a bellwether in the Trump era. In 2016, the Republican Presidential candidate won the state by some 10,000 votes.
    And the Republican candidate's supporters were ready with their list of grievances about the Biden-Harris administration.
    "Economy's horrible. Everything doubled in prices. Food, insurance, utilities, you name it," said Trump supporter, and Michigan home goods store owner, Roni Rophel. "It's just the feel like the country is not as strong as it used to be."
    Trump himself will be in Michigan on the day before the election, campaigning in Grand Rapids.
    Harris will campaign in five Pennsylvania cities, ending the day with a rally in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which will include performances by Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin and Oprah Winfrey.
    But her star-studded affairs was rubbing some U.S. voters passing through Detroit the wrong way.
    "As far as politicians and the whole rap thing, I'm not really feeling it," Georgia car detail worker, James Lee. "I feel like it's a joke."
    (Production by: Imad Creidi, Dan Fastenberg)
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