Watch live: Vance makes final midterm push in Michigan
One week out, and both parties are spending their most valuable time where it counts. Vance's stop in Howell puts a national spotlight on a district that's been trending closer than Republicans would like. Barrett has the incumbency advantage, but Lawrence's campaign has been hammering local economic concerns, and a visit from the vice president can cut both ways.
I think the real question is whether national attention helps or hurts in a race like this. A high-profile rally can fire up the base, but it also reminds moderate voters that this seat is part of a bigger national fight. I'd want to know what the polling looks like in the final stretch, and whether Vance's message lands on kitchen-table issues or gets lost in the noise.
I tend to think these late visits matter less than the ground game, but they do point to where the party sees vulnerability. If the GOP is sending the vice president to Howell, it's a sign they're not taking anything for granted.