It’s a close race for Michigan. These factors could decide it for Harris or Trump

Michigan is part of Vice President Harris’ clearest path to the White House.

The state is part of the “blue wall,” along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, that she and Democrats need to hold to avoid a second Donald Trump presidency.

It's home to some of the key demographics that both parties are courting this election, from white voters without college degrees to the largest Black-majority city, Detroit, and one of the nation’s largest Arab American populations.

But the path to victory is not easy this year. Harris and Trump remain in a close battle, as his populist message continues to resonate with white voters and union and blue-collar workers, particularly on the economy.

Dave Dulio, a professor of political science and director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Oakland University, says "in places like Macomb County, with many blue-collar voters and union workers, Trump made inroads by pledging to get the U.S. out of bad trade deals and renegotiate NAFTA, which he did."

“I think they still give him credit for that," he added.

Dulio underscores the state’s significance by noting that small shifts could lead to substantial changes for candidates: “If you take a small shift among the Arab American community and a small shift among union workers, those multiple small shifts could drive a very different result.”

Both candidates have heaped attention recently on the Wolverine State.On Oct 4, Harris visited a Redford Charter Township firehouse near Detroit, meeting union representatives. She met with Arab American and Muslim leaders then appeared with United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain in Flint and vowed support for Michigan's auto industry.Trump held campaign events twice in September and took his