Kamala Harris is desperate to paint Trump as a danger, but will Republicans really fall for it?
At a glance:
- Harris calls on Republicans to prioritize country over party, accusing Trump of trampling democratic norms.
- Trump, meanwhile, is focusing on Latino voters, defending his immigration policies while acknowledging the need for legal immigrant labor.
- Harris’ rally featured former Republican lawmakers who urged voters to reject Trump, citing his destabilizing influence.
With less than three weeks until Election Day, Kamala Harris is going all out to woo Republican voters by warning of the dangers of another Trump presidency. Surrounded by more than 100 former Republican officials, Harris argued that the patriotic choice for the upcoming election is to vote Democrat, claiming that Donald Trump is a threat to the Constitution and democracy itself.
Speaking near a historical site in the Philadelphia suburbs, Harris drew parallels between her fight and the fight for America’s independence, suggesting that Trump’s quest for power resembles an attack on the very principles of the Constitution. She also highlighted Trump’s controversial statement about wanting to “terminate” parts of the Constitution.
“Anyone who tramples on our democratic values as Donald Trump has… must never again stand behind the seal of the president of the United States,” Harris said.
Her rally, held in the vote-heavy Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is part of her final push to sway Republicans and on-the-fence voters in battleground states. Harris has even pledged to include Republicans in her administration and establish a bipartisan council for policy advice if elected.
At the same time, Trump is zeroing in on Latino voters. Addressing the community during a town hall on Univision, Trump defended his stance on immigration, maintaining his call for mass deportations but acknowledging the importance of legal immigrant labor. He continued to criticize Harris for her role in the Biden administration, specifically regarding immigration.
Trump was also questioned about the Capitol riots on January 6, with one audience member pointing out that even former Vice President Mike Pence no longer supports him. Trump dismissed the blame, stating that the rioters were protesting what they believed to be a “rigged election.”
As Harris courts Republican voters, she’s relying on GOP defectors like former Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Barbara Comstock, who spoke at her rally. They emphasized that Trump no longer represents the values of the Republican Party, and urged conservatives to prioritize democracy over party loyalty.
With the clock ticking down, Harris and Trump are both ramping up their efforts to capture key voting blocs. Whether Harris’ appeal to Republicans will bear fruit or Trump’s focus on Latino voters will pay off remains to be seen.