Page 16 - LRCC FOCUS September 2024

BY JENNIFER McENTEE

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: EMILY RICE

From Lansing to
From Lansing to

the White House
the White House

IT’S A PIVOTAL ELECTION YEAR
IT’S A PIVOTAL ELECTION YEAR

WHITE HOUSE correspondent Jon Decker suggest a wide range of controversial topics are on the
has reported on every U.S. presidential race since Bill table, Decker said that polling indicates U.S. voters’ top
Clinton’s win in 1996. The 2024 election cycle — with issues are largely the same year-over-year.
an assassination attempt on a former president and
a sitting president withdrawing from reelection “For most voters, the top issues in election cycle after
consideration after a disastrous TV debate — is perhaps election cycle is always jobs and the economy,” said
the most unpredictable he’s witnessed. Decker, noting that voters continue to be concerned
about the rising cost of gasoline and groceries.
“There are so many twists and turns,” said Decker,
the senior national editor for broadcaster In Michigan, Decker expects voters will consider
Gray Television. “These are things that only each candidate’s position toward vital
Hollywood can make up, but they’re real life, industries like automotive manufacturing.
and that’s what makes this particular cycle President Joe Biden and Vice President
so interesting.” Harris walked the picket line with United
Auto Workers last September, an indelible
Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection as show of support for the working class.
the Democratic nominee has changed the DECKER
dynamic of the presidential race, Decker said, “It’s a memorable image for me because I
especially as candidates vie for the necessary 270 cover President Biden, and I’m sure that it’s not
Electoral College votes to secure the presidency. forgotten by some of those union workers who were
putting their livelihoods on the line to strike for what they
Democrats have been “energized” by Harris’ campaign, viewed as a fair wage,” Decker said.
he said.
Presidential races are known to get more voters to the
“Former President Donald Trump anticipated an easy road polls than midterm elections, yet Decker said he doesn’t
to winning back the White House. With Kamala Harris at expect candidates for U.S. House and Senate seats or
the top of the ticket for Democrats, that road got more even regional races to ride the coattails of Harris or Trump.
difficult,” said Decker.
“Voters are evaluating their choices, notwithstanding
While debates, rallies, and social media banter might what’s happening at the presidential level,” Decker said.

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