Whitmer campaigns with Biden in Grand Rapids

MONDAY, March 9 — Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is focusing on his plans to expand Obamacare on the eve of tomorrow’s primary election, making today’s first campaign stop at a health center in Grand Rapids. 

His message: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders isn’t the only presidential candidate with a plan to improve health care. 

“Sen. Sanders is a good man, but his Medicare for All push would be a long and expensive slog — if he gets it done at all,” Biden said to reporters gathered at Cherry Health’s Heart of the City Health Center in Grand Rapids. “And the patients at Cherry Health can’t afford to wait for a revolution. They’re looking for results for their families and for themselves, today, immediately, not tomorrow. And that doesn’t mean standing still.” 

Biden arrived in Grand Rapids earlier this morning and plans to make an additional campaign stop in Detroit later this evening ahead of tomorrow’s primary election. By the time his plane landed, Sanders had already addressed crowds of more than 17,000 people yesterday at fiery rallies in both Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has joined a trove of other prominent Democrats nationwide in endorsing Biden earlier this month. She introduced Biden as “her friend” before he gave a nine-minute speech to a group of reporters. 

“Thanks to the Obama-Biden administration, we were able to extend health care to almost 700,000 Michiganders, many of whom saw a doctor for the very first time because of that work,” Whitmer said. “Joe is running a campaign that is focused on showing up, staying focused on dinner-table issues, having a body of work showing that he can get things done and building a coalition where everyone can find space in it.” 

Although Sanders won over Michigan against Hillary Clinton in 2016, Biden has amassed a growing level of support from prominent Democrats in Lansing and from former presidential hopefuls that have since suspended their campaigns. He carries a 91-delegate lead over Sanders ahead of tomorrow’s election. 

And with 125 delegates up for grabs in Michigan alone, tomorrow could be vital for either campaign. 

While many have criticized Biden over his frequent misspeaks, past voting record on trade deals and for being too far entrenched in the white bread Democratic establishment, others have suggested that Sanders’ Socialist ideals may be too far left to gain enough moderate support to defeat President Donald Trump in November. 

Others have been concerned that Biden won’t be able to motivate enough voter turnout from younger voters. 

Among those who have rallied behind Biden in recent weeks: Whitmer, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Kamala Harris, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Michigan Rep. Sarah Anthony, Ingham County commissioners Bryan Crenshaw and Derrell Slaughter, Mason Mayor Pro-Tem Russell Whipple and more. 

“The expansion of community health centers was one of Obamacare’s crowning achievements. In eight years, we’ve managed to double the number of facilities nationwide. In Michigan, Obamacare helped reduce the underinsured population by nearly 55%,” Biden said. “You can truly measure the ripple effects of progress.” 

“I’m going to stand firm against anyone who tries to tear down the progress and start all over again,” he added. 

Sanders’ push for Medicare for All would essentially scrap Obamacare, using inevitable tax increases to expand health coverage to thousands of Michigan residents through an entirely public option. Biden said he simply wants to build on the existing Affordable Care Act — a plan that he contends has been a solid starting point. 

“It means offering every single American a Medicare-like public option. That’s what I’d do,” Biden explained. “I’d restore Obamacare, all the cuts, and add a public option, a Medicare-like option for those who want it and those who can’t afford it automatically would be enrolled. And this plan can actually pass through Congress.” 

“Make no mistake about it: The result would be the most progressive, comprehensive health care system in American history. And when it passes, we double our investments. This is not hyperbole. We’d double our investments in community health centers like this one. We’d double mental health and substance abuse services.” 

Biden didn’t address any other national or statewide issues except health care this morning and didn’t take questions after his brief speech. Still, recent polling from the Detroit Free Press and EPIC-MRA released earlier today pegs him with a 24-point lead over Sanders with less than 24 hours before polls open tomorrow morning.  

But as Super Tuesday has shown, a lot can change. And Michigan — the first state in the industrial Midwest to vote — could still be a key political battleground in determining the eventual Democratic nominee. 

Click here to read additional coverage from Sanders’ rally in Grand Rapids on Sunday afternoon.