Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer called BS on a false report claiming she said incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden can't win in her state.
Not willing to let the report go unchallenged, Whitmer took to social media to send a clear rebuttal.
Whitmer shared a video of her campaigning for Biden-Harris 2024 with the caption:
"Anyone who claims I would say that we can’t win Michigan is full of shit."
"Let’s go."
The original report by Politico’s Jonathan Martin cited an unidentified source claiming Whitmer told someone privately that President Biden couldn’t win Michigan because of his debate performance on June 27.
The voiceover text of Whitmer's rebuttal video—created by Whitmer's Fight Like Hell PAC—featured Whitmer and several Michigan voters.
Governor Whitmer began by saying:
"We've got work to do in our state."
"There's no question the whole world is going to be watching what happens in Michigan and I know none of us wants to wake up the morning after this election and feel like we did in 2016. Right?"
A voter identified as Adam stated:
"It's important to vote for Joe Biden because he's going to protect my rights, protect my values, and I encourage all young people to vote the same way."
Governor Whitmer continued:
"We have a President who wakes up every single day and thinks about how we can make people's lives better."
The video then featured a Michigander named Dennis who shared:
"What motivates me to get out and vote?"
"My paycheck."
"At the end of the day, if I can't get my bills paid and I'm struggling, that's stress for me, that's stress for my family, that's stress for my community."
Governor Whitmer added:
"We have a President who is committed to respecting and protecting women's rights under the law in this country."
A young mother named Jazmyne—seated with her child—said:
"I want the best future for my daughter, as possible."
"I want her to be able to have equal opportunity, and access to education, and that's why we must vote for Biden and [Vice President Kamala] Harris."
Governor Whitmer then concluded the video, stating:
"And so, my friends, this election will be decided by a slim number of people, in a handful of states, and we are one of them."
"We cannot let Michigan fall on the wrong side of this election."
"But in these moments we've got to show up with one another and for one another."
"So that means hitting the doors, it means making the phone calls, it means registering people to vote, and reminding people about what's at stake here."
"Please help get the word out, and let's wake up the morning after this election damn tired, but damn proud of what we did."
"Let's go!"
Martin's Politico article focused on some efforts online to "Draft Gretch" Whitmer to run for President in 2024.
Martin quoted an unnamed "someone close to a potential 2028 Whitmer rival for the Democratic presidential nomination" as his source for Governor Whitmer's thoughts on Biden's chances in Michigan in November.
An aide to Whitmer, Helen Hare, stated the reported comment was entirely false.
In an official statement added to the article after Martin's original version was posted online Monday, Whitmer wrote:
"I am proud to support Joe Biden as our nominee and I am behind him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump."
"Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because he’s got the receipts: he’s lowered health care costs, brought back manufacturing jobs, and is committed to restoring the reproductive freedom women lost under Donald Trump."
People appreciated Governor Whitmer sending such a clear message of her continued support for Biden-Harris 2024.
And several took exception to the Politico article and perceived efforts to "gaslight" the public.
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And many reiterated their own support for Biden-Harris 2024.
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According to their website:
"Fight Like Hell PAC is a nationwide movement led by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to defend working people and protect our most fundamental rights."
Created in 2023, their mission statement is to:
"...focus the next two years on supporting President Biden and Vice President Harris’ re-election campaign, as well as helping Democrats flip the House and hold the Senate and ensuring our voice is heard in Washington."