President Joe Biden flew to Wisconsin Friday to shore up voter confidence in this critical swing state after a stumbling debate performance last week fueled speculation that he might drop out. He told a cheering crowd of hundreds of supporters packed into the Sherman Middle School gymnasium in Madison, “I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party.” 

Reading fluidly and energetically from a teleprompter, he acknowledged that last week’s debate with former President Donald Trump “wasn’t my best performance.” He spoke directly to the doubts expressed by some elected officials and liberal pundits — including the The New York Times editorial board, which has urged him to quit the race and make way for a different Democratic nominee. Those calling for him to drop out are ignoring the will of the voters, he said, “who voted for me in primaries all across the nation.”

“Guess what, they’re trying to push me out of the race,” Biden told the diverse crowd packed into the gym as well as an overflow room (the campaign estimated total attendance at more than 1,000). “Let me say this as clearly as I can: I’m staying in the race!”

“I’m not going to let one 90-minute debate wipe out three and a half years of work,” he added, to raucous cheers and chants of “four more years!”

“There’s a lot of discussion about my age,” Biden said, joking “I know I look 40.” “I wasn’t too old to create over 50 million new jobs,” he said, segueing into a litany of his accomplishments, including expanding health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, reducing student debt, and putting the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. “Do you think I’m too old to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land?” he asked the crowd, to a resounding “No!” He got the same response as he asked if people believed he was too old to ban assault weapons, make billionaires pay higher taxes and to beat Donald Trump

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers took the stage just before Biden to give him a plug. “With the help of the American Rescue Plan Act we were able to rebuild Wisconsin’s economy from the ground up,” Evers said, crediting Biden with investments that created hundreds of thousands of jobs, replaced contaminated wells, expanded internet access and rebuilt infrastructure in the state. 

“The thing about me and Joe,” Evers said, “we’re not flashy. Nor are we fancy. We’re not for political drama or fanfare. We put our heads down and do the work. We always try to do the right thing.”

Other Democrats, including Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway made the case that a second Trump term represents an existential threat and that reelecting Biden is essential. “I have to be honest with you, I’m afraid,” Rhodes Conway said. “The specter of dictatorship looms over America.”

“The only people with the power to stop Donald Trump are you,” Wikler told the crowd.

“Joe Biden took office amidst the wreckage of Donald Trump’s failed insurrection, an attempt to overthrow democracy in America on Jan. 6,” Wikler added, saying Biden “helped us to stabilize, helped us to refocus on rebuilding a country that works for working people.”

He praised Biden’s “patriotism, his decency, his empathy, his steely determination” and his ability to “get back up.” “And we know that he is asking us to get back up,” Wikler added, leading the crowd in a chant of “Get back up!”

Notably absent was Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is in a close race against Republican challenger Eric Hovde. The most recent Marquette University Law School poll shows Baldwin leading Hovde by a narrow margin. The same poll, released before the debate, showed Biden and Trump in a dead heat. Baldwin has deflected questions about whether she believes Biden should drop out of the race.

Olivia Saud, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who came to the rally at Sherman Middle School to see Biden in person, said she watched the debate and “I understand the concern.”

“I also understand the concern of Trump being president,” she said, adding, “I’m one of those people who subscribes to anything that’s blue I’m going to vote for at this point.”

Among her peers, Saud said, “I know a lot of students that are not really proud of how he handled Israel and Palestine. I also know that they feel he doesn’t really represent their beliefs and the policies they stand for. They feel he’s too old. But there are also people who will vote for him. It’s a mixed bag.”

Saud said she doesn’t know what Biden can do at this point to increase support among young voters. “A better debate performance — a little bit more on top of things — would have helped. I think with respect to Israel and Palestine it’s a little late now to fix things so people who are in that camp would support him.”

She had heard talk about Vice President Kamala Harris possibly replacing Biden, she said, but was not sure if Harris or another candidate would fare better than Biden with young voters.

Hernán Rodriguez, a recent UW graduate who now works full-time in higher education, came to the rally because “a goal of mine has always been to see a president live in person,” he said. 

“I think at this point it’s very likely,” he’ll vote for Biden, he said. “I think it’s all doors open, because who knows what could happen in the next few months.”

Asked what he hoped to hear from the candidate, Rodriguez said, “I think hope is important. At this point you listen in on the national conversation, it’s rather bleak, at least from the left, in terms of how well he’s doing in the election, what’s to come, the implications if he loses. So really, I want that spark — that spark in the base, that spark from Biden. So hopefully he’ll spark some momentum and turn things around.”

Tanya Cornelius, a member of the Ojibwe nation who works in tribal affairs, was also open to hearing what Biden had to say. It meant a lot, she said, that Biden appointed the first Native American cabinet member in history, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, and that his administration had done a lot of work to recognize tribal sovereignty and to uncover the dark history of the federally sponsored Native American boarding schools. 

“Every Native American person you meet has some contact with those schools,” she said — because almost every Native family has been affected. “The idea was to annihilate the Indian population.” 

“I’m a third-generation descendant of a survivor,” she said.  Growing up in Wisconsin, away from her Ojibwe family in Michigan, she lost her connection to her culture and language, she said. Now her children and grandchildren are trying to reclaim that connection. 

Biden has been good on Native American issues, she said. “I saw no movement from the Trump administration on upholding tribal sovereignty.”

Should Biden stay in the race? 

“I’m here to find out,” Cornelius said.

Jim Singer, an electrician and a member of IBEW Local 159, came to the rally to support Biden. 

“I think everybody’s worried. I think he’ll come through,” Singer said of the debate. “It’s one bad night. I’m not going to judge his whole presidency based on one bad debate.”

Among his top concerns in the election, Singer said, are democracy, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and workers’ rights. 

He agrees with the characterization of Biden as the most pro-labor president in recent history. “I’ve been in the trades 36 years, I’ve never seen work the way I’m seeing it now,” he said.

Singer said he thinks the large number of voters who tell pollsters they have less confidence in Biden than Trump on the economy are missing the big picture.

“I think the economy — people are so focused on the inflation. And while inflation is part of it, you have to look at the work situation,” he said. “There is so much work nationwide. I get it, the inflation is not good. That will come down. That will get under control. But right now, in my opinion, the economy is smoking.”

It does worry him, he added, that “there’s a faction of people that are pushing for him to step aside. I don’t think it’s a good move. I think if we throw all our resources and our support behind him, I think he’ll be fine.”

At the end of the rally, as Biden left the stage to the strain’s of the Tom Petty song “Won’t Back Down,” Singer was satisfied.

“I like it,” he said. “He’s fine. We’ll win.”

Biden stayed on stage as the rally ended to shake hands with the supporters arrayed behind him. Then he approached the mic one more time and the music stopped. “I won’t forget this,” he said. “God love ya.”

Amid growing calls from some Democrats and liberals for President Biden to step aside after his disastrous debate performance last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been touted as a possible replacement, raising questions about how she would handle the border crisis.

Whitmer, as a governor of a swing state, has been named as someone who could step into the role of the 2024 presidential nominee for Democrats if Biden were to step down. Previous polling has suggested she would fare the best out of a number of candidates against former President Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Should she receive the nomination and win in November, she would step into a federal leadership role at a time when immigration policy and the ongoing crisis at the southern border are top issues for voters and for the country.

DO THESE POTENTIAL BIDEN REPLACEMENTS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT TRUMP?

Whitmer has been largely supportive of what President Biden has done in terms of immigration policy. When Biden announced additional restrictions on asylum last month, she issued a glowing statement approving of the move and saying that he is “delivering.”

“President Biden’s executive action will help secure our country’s border by making it easier for immigration officers to remove those who are here unlawfully, reducing the burden on our Border Patrol agents. Today’s announcement builds on the president’s work to deploy a record number of border agents and officers to the southern border,” she said. “The American people want real solutions, and President Biden is delivering today.”

Like other Democrats, she also backed Biden’s broader calls for a comprehensive immigration bill to fix what the administration has called a “broken” immigration system.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS

That plan included sweeping reforms, additional visa pathways, extra funding and a pathway to U.S. citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. It was rejected by Republicans in part due to the inclusion of an amnesty. Whitmer wants it passed.

“President Biden sent Congress a comprehensive immigration reform plan on day 1 and repeatedly requested more border resources from Congress, only to be blocked by Republicans,” she said last month. “They should stop playing political games and work with the administration on a coordinated, bipartisan federal solution to fix our broken system.”

Like Biden, she has also been deeply critical of former President Trump’s attitudes toward the border. She previously noted that she sent the National Guard to the border during Trump’s term in office, and she has blamed him for killing a separate bipartisan Senate deal to provide funding for the border.

HOW WOULD A PRESIDENT NEWSOM HANDLE BORDER, IMMIGRATION POLICY?

“He told the Republicans to walk away, and they did,” she said in April.

Migrants arrive at a makeshift camp after crossing the border from Mexico near Jacumba Hot Springs in San Diego on Feb. 23, 2024. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

In the state itself, she has given some indications that she may take a harder line on illegal immigration, certainly tougher than some activists would want.

She has provided multiple National Guard deployments to the border, both during the Trump administration and the Biden administration in support of Texas.

According to her office, she sent 175 personnel between 2020 and 2021, and 37 have been stationed since 2020. She also visited Michigan soldiers at the border in 2022.

BIDEN VOWS TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE, UNDETERRED BY DEMOCRAT PANIC AFTER DEBATE DISASTER

Unlike other potential Democrats, like Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom, she has taken a hard line against illegal immigrants receiving state benefits. In California, illegal immigrants are eligible for state Medicaid. But Whitmer has shown no sign of echoing that approach.

“If you are here illegally, I do not believe that you should have access,” Whitmer said in April, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Whitmer has come under fire from some Republicans for a Newcomer Rental Subsidy program, which provides some immigrants up to $500 in rental assistance. However, it is aimed to help asylees, refugees and others who have valid immigration status in the U.S. and explicitly states that those in the country illegally are not eligible for the program.

Hey friends,

Detroit’s skyline is about the change again. This time, with a new 600-room hotel where Joe Louis Arena used to be, as av JW Marriott is coming. [Urbanize Detroit]

Immediately, I thought of when I took the Chicago architecture boat tour. This rendering gives me that vibe right away, and I think that’s a good thing. Opening up the lower floors allows the riverfront to be better utilized, and helps connect it.

I remember passing by wedding parties and more; and it looked really cool. Because look, I LOVE Detroit’s riverfront. But as far as constant buzz, with restaurants, activities, residents, and ship activity, there’s notes we could take from them to make ours even better.

I think the progress we’ve made is great, but there’s way more we could do with activations along the way.

This hotel will be directly connected to the largest convention center in the region, Huntington Place. That’ll be a benefit for us getting better (and more) conventions and visitors in town.

There will also be 50,000 square feet of other programming, as a “instant neighborhood” rises tying this, The Residences at Water Square, nearby residential towers, and soon Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park.

On the most recent edition of the podcast, I was joined by Devon O’Reilly and Norris Howard for a discussion on this project, predictions for the next six months in the city (we think we’re about the hit the accelerator with more money coming on the table), and a spirited discussion on the usefulness (and possibilities!) of the Detroit People Mover.

Come say hi! We’re throwing a Happy Hour at The Royce Detroit by Grand Circus Park this Thursday, July 11! There’s been so much interest we had to open up more spots.

Stop by from 4p-7p, we’ll be on the second level. Enjoy wine (or your drink of choice) and let’s chat. Learning what you all want to talk about is one of the fun parts of doing this. [Sign up on Eventbrite]

🗳️ Your voice counts! Our annual survey is out, and closes on Sunday. We’d love to hear from you about what you want more of with Daily Detroit. The response has been great (and constructive) and the more, the merrier.

🗞️ What to know

🛢️ Friends of the Rouge are urging Northville’s mayor to investigate a June 21 oil spill at Northville Downs, where up to 85 gallons leaked into the Rouge River. [Detroit News]

Cleanup is ongoing, but FotR have concerns around the ecological impacts on fish and habitat projects. EGLE, who oversees the situation, says they saw no evidence of impacts on the river during recent heavy rains. Northville Downs is being demolished as part of a $300 million, 443 unit development.

🎨 Part of Detroit’s arts scene, created by Olayami Dabls, faces demolition after more than two decades due to structural issues. Located at Grand River and West Grand Boulevard, the building is a landmark part of Dabls African Bead Museum. Dabls has been seeking $400K for repairs and community support to save it; the city says it’s structurally unsound. [ClickOnDetroit] [Metro Times] [GoFundMe]

🏗️ The Gilbert Family Foundation is moving forward with a modular housing project in Detroit’s North Corktown, despite resident concerns about build quality and costs. Nine parcels were purchased for the initiative, aiming to showcase manufactured housing as a viable, affordable option. [Crain’s Detroit]

We had an in-depth conversation on this with Darnell Adams from the Gilbert Family Foundation on this project back in February, getting into ways to create affordable housing as building and land costs skyrocket. [Daily Detroit podcast]

⚡️ Eminem’s new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), comes out July 12. Two singles have been released, “Houdini” and “Tobey.” Tobey includes a collab with Big Sean and Babytron. [Billboard] [Pitchfork]

p.s. – I’m looking for someone who has good insight (and is into) the music to talk to on the podcast after the album drops to get into it on the show. Email me, jer – at – dailydetroit – dot – com.

☕️ The MOCAD Cafe — inside the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit — is reopening this week. This was a great place to enjoy art, get caffeinated, and it was magical on days they opened their big garage door. You’ll find it on Woodward in Detroit’s Midtown. The hours mirror that of the museum. [Instagram] [MOCAD]

🍑 The long-teased Peach Cobbler Factory in downtown Detroit is having their grand opening tomorrow (Saturday). They’ve been doing soft service for awhile, as many restaurants do, to figure out processes and improve things – but this is the start of real operations. [Instagram]

It feels like I’ve seen the sign up at Broadway and Gratiot for forever and a day.

🪟 A new breakfast window is coming to and old favorite. The Old Shillelagh’s window on Brush in Greektown will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 8a-2p, serving breakfast bowls, smoothies, and booze. [Freep] [Metro Times]

I love walk-up windows, and the idea they’re going to do a bit of cleaner eating is attractive and kind of unique is a sea of coneys and burgers. It was the walk-up coffee window at Milwaukee Cafe that kept me (and my dog) sane during the pandemic. So I’ll definitely give this a spin.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed what I did here, there are three ways to support.

1) Tell a friend about Daily Detroit! Word of mouth is the number one way people learn about us.

2) Buy us a coffee! One time support is valuable and sends the message that you want more all-local coverage. We also know a lot of people prefer to do a one-time thing.

3) Our monthly Patreon members get extra benefits like swag and access to our member-only Discord, where we often post ahead of what we post publicly – and you get direct access to ask your questions and share with our community.

I hope you have a great holiday weekend. We’ll be back next week, and I’ll have new episodes of the podcast on Monday.

Remember that you are somebody,

-Jer