The country was changed forever in November of 2016 when Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lost Michigan to now-President Donald Trump. His victory in the crucial swing state all but secured his upset electoral college victory.
Three and a half years later, as the state prepares to vote in the Democratic primaries, former Vice President Joe Biden just received an unexpected—but welcome—endorsement that may indicate how the state's electorate feels about its decision in 2016, after nearly one full term of Trump.
Sterling Heights, Michigan Mayor Michael Taylor—a lifelong Republican—announced that he'd be voting for Joe Biden for President, assuring that Biden could unite Democrats and moderate conservatives a like.
Taylor said:
"Since announcing my endorsement of Joe Biden I have received an outpouring of encouraging messages and believe even more strongly that Joe Biden is the candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in Macomb County and the State of Michigan."
Taylor voted for Trump in 2016, but has no intentions to repeat that mistake this election:
"I remember thinking this Trump thing is insane, but when it was down to him and Hillary, I kind of said, 'Well, you are a Republican, and yeah he's nuts, but maybe he'll get better and you know he's going to lower taxes.' I slowly talked myself into it. 'He can't seriously be this deranged once he gets in there,' and he's even more deranged now than I thought then. So, I take the blame. I voted for him."
According to recent polling of the Michigan primary, Biden is currently leading fellow Democratic candidate Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont by a healthy margin.
Sterling Heights, over which Mayor Taylor presides, is in Macomb county, which was crucial to Trump's 2016 victory in the state. If he's losing support there, a repeat of that victory faces a major hurdle.
People hope that Mayor Taylor's mea culpa is a sign of things to come.
The President has yet to tweet about Taylor.
No matter who the Democratic candidate becomes, a massive voter turnout will be crucial if the country wants to make Donald Trump a one term President. Are you registered to vote?
For a look into just how deranged the Trump administration really is, A Very Stable Genius is available here.
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