Vice President Joe Biden, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, will all make campaign stops in southeast Michigan this week.
Vice President Joe Biden made an afternoon stop in Detroit today, where he held what the Obama Campaign called a grassroots event at Renaissance High School.
Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields introduced Biden to a packed crown in the school's atrium.
"He knows the pride you feel in never giving up and always getting up," Shields said.
Biden hugged Shields, calling her amazing. He said watching her box in the Olympics reminded him of one of his father's sayings.
"'Joey, just get up. Get knocked down; just get up," said Biden.
He looked at Shields and said,'"Child, you know how to get up [and] Detroit's getting back up."
He went on to characterize the November election as "a make or break moment for the middle class," with "stark differences between the candidates."
"There's no mystery here," he said, referring to his opponents. "They're telling us exactly what they're going to do, and they've done it."
Biden's 40-minute speech focused on the manufacturing industry and job outsourcing, but he also touched on many other subjects including the automotive industry, unemployment, tax breaks for the wealthy, education, and the war in Iraq.
He offered a "bumper sticker" platform to succinctly explain up the Democratic party under President Obama.
"'Osama bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive.' You want a bumper sticker? That sums it up, man. It tells you what this great president of ours has already done," he said.
The vice president closed his speech to cheers.
"Let's meet this moment together," he said. "With your help, we will win Michigan, and we will win this election."
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is also scheduled to campaign in Michigan, his home state, this Friday with his new running mate, Paul Ryan.
The two will make a 12:05 p.m. stop at Long Family Orchard Farm and Cider Mill in Commerce Township, before moving south to Ohio on Saturday.
-Elaine Ezekiel, Michigan Radio
