密执安州州长格雷琴·惠特默和许多政治家一起出席了民主党全国代表大会周一，随着政治集会在芝加哥拉开帷幕。
惠特默自2019年起担任大湖州州长，并于7月出版了她的政治回忆录《真实的格雷奇》。
她与ABC新闻的Linsey Davis坐下来讨论了哈里斯-瓦尔兹的选票，她未来可能的总统竞选，并强调了女性选票在即将到来的选举中的重要性。
ABC新闻:现在加入我们的是密歇根州州长、民主党州长格雷琴·惠特默。非常感谢您的参与，州长。我们真的很感激。所以，一个月前，你还是建议和支持乔·拜登另一个学期。你对事情变化如此之快感到惊讶吗?
惠特默:嗯，你知道吗，我们一直知道，如果要发生变化，那将是来自拜登总统。最终他确实改变了主意。我们迅速转向拥抱他的副总统。她一直在他身边。她一直是他的政府的忠实成员。她是他们取得如此多胜利的关键因素，她知道如何进入角色，带领我们走向下一个，下一个篇章，对此我真的很兴奋。我认为蒂姆·沃尔兹对她来说也是一个极好的竞选伙伴。
ABC新闻:你是那些真正站出来支持卡玛拉·哈里斯的州长和政党领袖之一，紧随乔·拜登之后。你对该党如此迅速地团结在卡玛拉·哈里斯周围感到惊讶吗?因为，当然，起初对此有些担心。
惠特默:嗯，你知道，这是一个很大的帐篷，有很多不同的有利位置和人是这个派对的一部分。但我认为我们都承认，卡玛拉·哈里斯最有资格作为一方采取下一步行动。她是个伟大的领导者。她已经证明了她知道如何把事情做好，她是一个正常人。你知道，她不是出生在富贵人家。她一生都在努力工作。她获得并担任了许多职位，显示了她有多坚强。她到现在为止，我很高兴来到这里。我把我的女儿们带来了，因为我认为是这样。我们正处于这个国家新篇章的尖端，这令人兴奋。你可以在这里感受到。
ABC新闻:你提到了蒂姆·沃尔兹和你对他的支持。我们知道你很早就退出了副总裁的竞选，但如果你接到电话，你会如何回应?
惠特默:你知道，我必须告诉你，我已经承诺在密歇根完成我的任期，我从来没有，我也没有计划不这样做。蒂姆·沃尔兹、乔希·夏皮罗-卡玛拉·哈里斯有那么多优秀的人可供她选择竞选伙伴。但最终，她还是想和某个人一起跑。所以我，我会对这些选择中的任何一个感到满意，但是我认为，我认为这是一张很棒的票。这些都是日常生活中的普通人。他们明白了。他们理解我们，他们了解我们的生活，他们会每天都关注如何让我们的生活变得更好。你将这与唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)形成对比，后者是为自己着想。我认为这将会引起很多美国人的共鸣。
ABC新闻:有很多人会把你所在的密歇根州与自由运动联系在一起。当然，我们在这里看到了一些抗议者。你有多担心，不仅是芝加哥的抗议者，还有即将到来的11月的投票箱，尤其是密歇根州的投票箱?
惠特默:嗯，第一，你知道，在大会上总会有抗议，而且肯定是很强烈的。我们认识到人们有能力畅所欲言是很重要的。这就是人们正在做的。我也知道，我们看到了对哈里斯-瓦尔兹政府的巨大热情和兴奋。在她宣布竞选伙伴的两天后，我们在密歇根举行了15000人的集会。另一个人叫它AI，但是我在那里。实际上，人们对此感到非常兴奋。所以我们必须赢得每个人的投票。这意味着进入犹太人社区、穆斯林社区、阿拉伯人社区、巴勒斯坦人社区，所有这些社区都有很多人打电话回家，但所有这些社区都很重要。这里有很好的工作要做，但是我很乐观。
ABC新闻:众所周知，前总统唐纳德·特朗普预计将于明天在密歇根州的豪厄尔参加竞选活动。许多人都知道，一个月前，在豪厄尔，三k党抗议者穿着白色长袍走上街头，并表示他们支持唐纳德·特朗普。我很好奇你有没有提到这种联系，特别是他明天去豪厄尔。
惠特默:嗯，你知道，任何做一点研究的人可能都会说这真是个坏主意。看光学系统。你在密歇根的同时出现在三k党的所在地。我的意思是，我认为这是一个令人不安的，令人不安的策略，我们从另一个角度看到分裂我们，恐吓我们，激起恐惧和愤怒，与我们整个星期将在这里看到的形成对比。这是一次快乐战士的聚会。我们正在卷起袖子。我们正在工作。我们不认为任何人和选票是理所当然的。但出于同样的原因，我们不会助长特朗普竞选中常见的仇恨和其他主义。
ABC新闻:在你的书《真正的格雷奇》中，我想引用你的话，你说“当你需要真正的盔甲时，你会穿上皮夹克，”以及“不要惹美国女人，我们会反击，我们会赢。”你说过要带你的女儿来这里。你认为女性在密西根州是赢得卡玛拉·哈里斯奖的关键吗?
惠特莫:毫无疑问。毫无疑问。我们看到，随着我们的生育权在两年前被提上日程，女性会来到我们的活动现场，并说“我是共和党人。我没有投你的票，但我会为你敲门，因为你是唯一为我争取权利的人。”人们一直期待着这50年的权利会一直存在，现在为了我们在这个国家的女儿，订婚了。所以我确实认为，女性的选票在每次选举中都非常重要，尤其是这次，尤其是在这个历史性的时刻。
美国广播公司新闻:所以每天晚上我们都要和像密歇根州这样的摇摆州的州长谈话。我特别好奇你的州，你认为它需要什么?你认为你的选民需要什么，才能让卡玛拉·哈里斯和蒂姆·沃尔兹越过胜利线?
惠特默:嗯，我想我们得到了我们出现，我们做的工作，我们得到了所有83个县。我们实际上与选民交谈，谈论卡玛拉·哈里斯正在解决的机会经济，说每个人都应该有一条通往繁荣的道路，负担得起的住房和获得技能的负担得起的方式，这样我们才能找到一份高薪的工作。增长和制造业，我们在密歇根州看到，如果不是拜登-哈里斯政府，这不会发生。过去停在停车场等待芯片的汽车现在正在移动，沿着生产线移动，因为我们在支撑供应链。所以我认为有很多吸引人的东西，密歇根人会和我们产生共鸣。但我不会假设每个人都知道这一点。我们要确保他们，他们意识到真正的利害关系。
ABC新闻:最后，在我让你走之前，如果我不问的话，我就没有尽到我的职责。我知道现在这一切都是关于哈里斯和沃尔兹，但在未来，你有没有排除过自己竞选总统?
你知道吗?今年我会投哈里斯-瓦尔兹的票。我打算四年后再投他们一票。所以我们会谈论八年后会发生什么。
ABC新闻:好的，惠特莫州长，非常感谢你抽出时间。非常感谢你能加入我们。
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she'll vote for Kamala Harris for two terms
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was among the many politicians attendance at theDemocratic National ConventionMonday, as the political gathering kicked off in Chicago.
Whitmer has served as governor of the Great Lake State since 2019 and published her political memoir "True Gretch" in July.
She sat down with ABC News' ABC News' Linsey Davis to discuss the Harris-Walz ticket, her potential future presidential run and underscore the significance of women's votes in the upcoming election.
ABC NEWS: Joining us now on set, Michigan governor, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Thank you so much, governor, for joining us. We really appreciate it. So, one month ago, you were stillsuggesting and supporting Joe Bidenfor another term. Are you surprised at how quickly things have changed?
WHITMER: Well, you know what, we always knew that if a change was going to happen, it was going to come from President Biden. And ultimately he did change his mind. And we pivoted really quickly to embrace his vice president. She's been by his side. She has been a loyal part of his administration. She's been a key part of why they've had so many victories and knows how to step into the role and take us to the next, the next chapter, and I'm really excited about it. I think Tim Walz is a fantastic running mate for her, too.
ABC NEWS: You were one of a number of governors, of party leaders who really stepped out and endorsed Kamala Harris right away, right on the heels of Joe Biden doing the same. Were you surprised at all about how quickly the party really coalesced around Kamala Harris? Because, of course, at first there was some concern about that.
WHITMER: Well, you know, it's a big tent and there are lots of different vantage points and people that are part of this party. But I think we all recognize that Kamala Harris was in the best position to take the next step for us as a party. She's a great leader. She has proven she knows how to get things done, and she's a normal human being. You know, she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She has worked her way through life. She's attained and held a number of offices and shown how tough she is. And she is up to this moment, and I'm excited to be here. I brought my daughters with me because I think it is. We are on the cusp of a big new chapter in this country and and it's exciting. You can feel it here.
ABC NEWS: And you mentioned Tim Walz and your support for him. We know that you took your name out of the running for that VP selection early on, but had you received a call how would you have responded?
WHITMER: You know, I got to tell you, I've made a commitment to serve out my term in Michigan, and never for a second have I, do I plan not to do exactly that. Tim Walz, Josh Shapiro -- Kamala Harris had so many great people from whom she could choose her running mate. But at the end of the day, it's got to be someone she wants to run with. And so I, I would have been happy with any of those choices, but I think, I think this is just a great ticket. These are regular everyday people. They get it. They understand us, they see our lives, and they're going to focus every single day on how to make our lives better. And you contrast that with Donald Trump, who's in it for himself. I think that this is going to resonate with a lot of Americans.
ABC NEWS: There are many people will associate your state of Michigan with the uncommitted movement. Of course, we've seen a number of protesters here. How concerned are you, with regard to not only the physical presence of the protesters here in Chicago, but also the ballot box, in Michigan in particular, come November?
WHITMER: Well, number one, you know, there's always protests at conventions, and certainly it's robust. And we recognize it's important that people have their ability to speak out. And that's what people are doing. I also know that we are seeing a tremendous outpouring of energy and excitement about a Harris-Walz administration. We had a 15,000 person rally in Michigan two days after she announced her running mate. The other guy called it AI, but I was there. It was actually real people who are very excited about this. And so we have to earn the votes of every person. That means getting into the Jewish community, the Muslim community, the Arab community, the Palestinian community, all of whom call home in robust numbers, but all of whom are important. And, there's there's good work to do here, but I'm optimistic.
ABC NEWS: As you know, president -- well former president -- Donald Trump is expected to go campaign in Howell, Michigan, tomorrow. Many people are aware that a month ago, in Howell, KKK protesters marched in the streets with the white robes on and, and suggested that they support Donald Trump. I'm curious if you make anything about that connection and his going in particular to Howell tomorrow.
WHITMER: Well, you know, anyone who's doing a little bit of research might have said that's really a bad idea. Look at the optics. You're showing up where the KKK was just at the same time you're in Michigan. I mean, this is, I think a troubling, a troubling strategy that we see from the other side to divide us and to scare us and to stoke fear and anger and contrast to what we're going to see here all week. This is a gathering of joyful, happy warriors. We are rolling up our sleeves. We're doing the work. We take no one and no vote for granted. But by the same token, we're not going to feed into the hatred and the otherism that we see routinely coming out of the Trump campaign.
ABC NEWS: In your book, "True Gretch," and I want to quote, you say "You put on a leather jacket when you need true armor," and "Don't mess with the American women, we will fight back and we will win." You talked about bringing your daughters here. Do you think that women are key in Michigan for Kamala Harris winning?
WHITMER: No question. No question at all. We saw, with our reproductive rights on the ballot two years ago, women would come to our events and say "I'm a Republican. I didn't vote for you, but I'm out knocking doors for you because you're the only one fighting for my rights." People who have been expecting these 50-year rights would always be there, are now gone for our daughters across this country, are engaged. And so I do think that, the women's votes are going to be very important in every election, but especially this one, especially in this historic moment too.
ABC NEWS: So each night we're going to be talking to a governor from a battleground state like Michigan. And I'm curious for your state in particular, what do you think it's going to need? What do you think your voters need, in order to get Kamala Harris and Tim Walz over the victory line?
WHITMER: Well, I think we get we show up, we do the work, we get into all 83 counties. We actually talk to voters, talk about the, you know, opportunity economy that Kamala Harris is, you know, addressing, saying every person deserves a path to prosperity, affordable housing and affordable way to get skills so we can get to a good paying job. The growth and manufacturing, we are seeing that in Michigan, it would not have happened but for the Biden-Harris administration. The cars that used to sit on lots waiting for chips are now moving, moving along the line, because we're on on-shoring the supply chains. So I think that there are a lot of compelling things that Michiganders, are going to resonate with us. But I'm not going to assume everyone knows this. We got to make sure that they, that they appreciate what what really is at stake here.
ABC NEWS: And lastly before I let you go, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask. I know this is all about Harris and Walz now, but down the future, have you ruled out ever running for president yourself?
WHITMER: You know what? I'm voting for Harris-Walz this year. I plan to vote for them again in four years. So we'll talk about what happens in eight years a while from now.
ABC NEWS: Alright Gov. Whitmer thank you so much for the time. Really appreciate you joining us.
