The acerbic clash between President Trump and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over delivering services to states afflicted with the coronavirus carries great risk for both politicians, as voters look to Washington and state capitals for bipartisan leadership during the public health crisis.
Whitmer, 48, is a co-chair of likely Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign and is widely believed to be a top candidate to become his running mate. Trump is seeking reelection this November, and Michigan was among the battleground states that put him in the White House four years ago. The two have frequently sparred over whether the federal government is providing needed supplies quickly enough.
Trump has, at times, seemed exasperated by Democratic governors critical of how he has worked with their states, urging them to step up.
Few have irritated him more than the person he called that “woman in Michigan,” Whitmer. “No more political attacks, just PPEs, ventilators, N95 masks, test kits,” Whitmer shot back. “You said you stand with Michigan — prove it.” She delivered the Democratic response to the State of the Union earlier this year and appeared on television wearing a T-shirt playing up her conflict with Trump.
The exchanges have the potential to backfire: Whitmer could be perceived as putting her national aspirations ahead of Michigan’s needs during the pandemic, alienating voters at home and the Republican administration in Washington; Trump could also be seen as playing politics in an emergency, turning off just enough voters in a state he barely won in 2016 to lose this time around.
“As the governor of a swing state, Gretchen Whitmer would certainly be an asset as Joe Biden’s running mate since his path to the White House runs through the industrial Midwest,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon. “If she ends up as Biden’s running mate, she will have Donald Trump to thank for her promotion. The president’s attacks on the Michigan governor elevated the woman whose presence on the Democratic national ticket could end his presidency. Donald Trump’s attacks on Whitmer may make him feel good, but they are politically self-defeating.”
“Gov. Whitmer has, on more than one occasion, called for a decrease in partisan rhetoric during this time of national emergency,” said Dennis Darnoi, a Michigan-based Republican strategist. “In order to maintain her credibility, she must recognize the difference between expressing legitimate disagreements with the president and spouting partisan talking points. If she can do the former and resist the latter, then she’ll be able to emerge from this period with her reputation intact.”
“Secondly, when you level criticism at someone for how they are handling a situation, you inevitably bring scrutiny upon your own management skills,” he added. “While Gov. Whitmer and the state of Michigan got strong early marks for how they handled the crisis, there are growing concerns over the lack of transparency and information surrounding COVID-19 patients and their care. Additionally, there are mounting complaints over the difficulty in filing unemployment claims and the ability of the state system to meet the growing needs of its citizens … Any time spent engaging in spats with the president can be seen as coming at the expense of tending to those issues that matter most to the people of this state.”
Trump faces a similar challenge. “By attacking or criticizing Gov. Whitmer over issues that seem to stem from a personal perspective, the president reinforces the image of someone consumed by petty matters,” Darnoi said. “Whether the governor of a particular state shows appreciation or gratitude for what the president has done ought to be immaterial to whether requests for lifesaving supplies are met. Ultimately, the president does not win if the citizens of Michigan believe their loved one died because he refused to provide ‘that woman from Michigan’ with the necessary supplies and support.”
“This is not the time for politicians to play the blame game, deflection, or minimize problems,” said former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer of a national coronavirus communications strategy.
“It seems like years ago; I think most people are past it,” said John Truscott, a longtime aide to former Gov. John Engler. “They want to see everyone able to take a victory lap when this is over.”
“A majority of voters in Michigan chose to support both Donald Trump and Gretchen Whitmer,” Darnoi said. “What voters want is for the president and the governor to do the jobs to which they were elected.”
Vice President Mike Pence, leader of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, has praised Whitmer for “leading her state through all of this with great energy.” He told reporters, “We want to partner with her, and we want to partner with every governor and make sure that the left hand knows what the right hand is doing, in terms of acquiring resources.”
