(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/19/2024) (FARMINGTON HILLS) – Vice President Kamala Harris thanked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her work as she took the stage with Oprah Winfrey in Oakland County for a broadcast campaign event Thursday evening. 

"Welcome to Michigan," Winfrey said. 

"It's so good to be back, and Governor, thank you for everything you are and everything you do for this state. Thank you," Harris said. 

Leading up to welcoming Harris to the stage, Winfrey brought Whitmer out and got her take on the Michigander v. Michiganian debate. 

"Before the vice president joins us, I want to bring out a local Michigander. I love saying Michigander," Winfrey said.  

Despite this event taking place in Michigan, that was about the extent of Michigan tie-ins. Well, except for one crowd member who is a Michigan resident who asked Harris directly what specific steps she'd take to strengthen the border. 

Harris said where we are now can be traced to a border security bill not being taken up for a vote after former President Donald Trump blocked it. 

In true Oprah Winfrey fashion, she asked the follow-up that would answer the original question: would she reintroduce that policy? 

"Absolutely.  And when I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure that bill gets to my desk and I will sign it into law," Harris said.  

Immigration, cost of living, gun violence and abortion were all topics discussed Thursday night. Of those four, immigration was the only one where an audience member directly impacted by the issue didn't speak to the vice president. 

For cost of living, Pennsylvania residents Rachel and Garrett talked about watching every penny to afford their mortgage. For gun violence, 15-year-old Natalie Griffith, a victim of the Apalachee High School shooting, recounted her experience being shot in the arm twice in algebra class. For abortion, incest survivor Hadley Duvall thanked Harris for her support, and family members of Amber Nicole Thurman, a woman who lost her life due to Georgia's abortion bans, told Harris that she should not just be a statistic.  

After speaking with Griffith, Harris emphasized that she's a supporter of the Second Amendment, assault weapons bans, universal background checks and red flag laws, the former of which doesn't have to leave you opposed to the latter three. 

Winfrey said she thought it was powerful that Harris said on the debate stage that she was a gun owner.  

"I did not know that!" Winfrey said. 

"If somebody breaks into my house, they're getting shot," Harris said. "Probably shouldn't have said that." 

Team Trump Michigan Communications Director Victoria Lacivita said in a statement that Harris hasn't offered a plan on how to fight inflation. 

"We're sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you can't lower inflation by hiding goodie bags under chairs. Michiganders can't afford life right now - four more years is unimaginable. Oh, and don't forget - a Harris-Walz administration means that you'll get a tax raise, you'll get a tax raise, and you'll get a tax raise!"