DETROIT — President Joe Biden attended a Michigan Democratic Party fundraiser Wednesday afternoon with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after his visit to the Detroit auto show.
Biden arrived onstage at 3:26 p.m. inside the Portside Ballroom of the Huntington Place convention center and gave remarks to a crowd estimated at 150 to 200 people, echoing some themes of his recent political speeches.
"The right to choose is on the ballot," Biden said, referring to abortion rights in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. "In this state, is literally on the ballot."
Biden also blasted "extreme MAGA Republicans" and referred to Whitmer's opponent, GOP nominee Tudor Dixon.
“There is an extreme set of Republicans who run the Republican Party today, and that includes Gretchen's opponent from what I've read, who wants to take us backwards full of anger and division," Biden said.
"On choice, Democrats want to codify Roe v. Wade. Republicans want a national ban on abortion. In fact, Gretchen's opponent supports an extreme ban with no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother."
Dixon has said she opposes allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest but supports an exception to protect the life of the mother.
Biden's mic cut in and out during his remarks, according to a White House pool report.
In response to the fundraiser, Dixon spokeswoman Sara Broadwater said Biden and Whitmer "could not be more tone deaf about the issues facing hardworking Michiganders."
"Just today they were hand in hand at the auto show, smiling for the cameras about their radical energy and economic plans, meanwhile Michigan lost 5K automotive jobs, manufacturing is leaving the state, inflation is over 8%, and crime is skyrocketing," Broadwater said.
"Gretchen said she’s ridin with Biden…she can have him."
Biden in his remarks also alluded to former President Donald Trump's numerous proclaimed "infrastructure weeks," saying that Trump made it a "punchline," unlike Democrats who got a $1 trillion infrastructure funding package passed into law.
"Gretchen's opponent calls the infrastructure law 'fake,' while Gretchen knows infrastructure provides jobs while keeping commitments ... Fixing the damn roads, for instance," Biden said.
Biden also claimed that "extreme" Republicans "embrace political violence" following the failed insurrection attempt on Jan. 6, 2021 to stop Congress from certifying his election victory over Trump.
"To this day they defend those who stormed the Capitol on January 6," Biden said. "The extreme MAGA Republicans are destroying American democracy."
Whitmer campaign spokeswoman Maeve Coyle confirmed Biden held a fundraiser Wednesday afternoon with Whitmer before leaving the city. The fundraiser was for the Michigan Democratic Party, Coyle said.
Earlier in the day, Whitmer toured the auto show floor with Biden. At one point, the governor was photographed holding hands with the president.
"We know he's a car guy, but he didn't have to be here," Whitmer said during her remarks, thanking Biden for making the trip.
Asked whether she would support Biden if he ran for president again in 2024, Whitmer said she's "not having that conversation."
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, standing beside the governor, interjected, saying if Biden does run, "we're all supporting him."
"We've all already said that on the record," Whitmer said.
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