AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – During a visit to suburban Detroit, JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, sharply criticized Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, claiming she has demonstrated ineffective leadership.

“If you’ve got all these fantastic ideas, here’s a challenge: Why not implement them now?” the Ohio senator and running mate of Donald Trump asked about 200 supporters at Visioneering, an aerospace manufacturing facility in Oakland County, Michigan. “You’re the vice president, yet you haven’t accomplished anything beneficial for America.”

The audience, largely composed of Republicans in this pivotal battleground state for the 2024 election, responded with enthusiasm to Vance, who is on the campaign trail alongside former President Trump.

Vance’s trip to the Detroit area came just hours after his debate with Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He chose not to criticize Walz, expressing sympathy for him having to defend Harris’ track record on economic issues.

Vance received overall positive feedback for his performance in the debate, but faced backlash for not responding directly to a question about whether Trump won the 2020 election. When pressed for his thoughts on that, Vance sidestepped the issue again.

“The reason is simple: the media wants to dwell on the past election, but I’m focused on the upcoming election in 33 days,” he stated.

He further criticized Democratic resistance to the SAVE Act, which would mandate citizenship documentation to register to vote. Democrats argue that noncitizen voting is already prohibited and that the bill would complicate voter registration processes.

Speaking in front of a large American flag, Vance adopted a more aggressive tone than in the debate, mentioning Harris over 50 times in a nearly hour-long speech.

He vowed to prioritize American workers in Trump’s potential second term, standing firm against electric vehicle mandates that he argues favor China.

“There’s a whole supply chain in the automotive industry, and China leads in electric vehicles, while the U.S. excels with gasoline-powered cars,” Vance remarked.

In response, Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., a supporter of Harris, stated that it is Trump who has failed workers in the auto industry.

“He promised to create more jobs for workers and spark a manufacturing renaissance across the Midwest, yet once in office, he led to a manufacturing downturn instead,” Dingell claimed. “Vice President Harris is focusing on future progress, while Trump and Vance aim to take our nation backwards.”

An analysis by the Free Press indicates that the situation regarding automotive jobs is complex.

Rick Kuchta, a 61-year-old HVAC contractor from Chesterfield, has attended previous rallies and wanted to see Vance, stating that he thought Vance outperformed his opponent in the debate.

“I like him. He comes across as very relatable and down-to-earth,” Kuchta noted. “I appreciate his style and policies. He’s firmly behind Trump.”

Kuchta expressed his intent to vote for Trump and anticipates controversy regardless of the outcome.

“I believe there will be chaos, no matter what happens. Everyone is convinced they will win, but only one can lose,” he said.

Kimberly Knue, a 54-year-old employee benefits manager from Milford, attended the event to see Vance speak.

“I consider him a national asset,” she expressed. “He’s intelligent, articulate, and brings innovative ideas to the table. He’s a strong leader with an admirable background and family.”

She anticipates a close win for Trump in the election.