Vice President Kamala Harris took a jab at Republican frontrunner Donald Trump during a high-profile fundraiser on Sunday, boasting about the large crowds she draws as she campaigns across the country, reported the news agency AP.
She also aimed to reinforce her support in battleground states like Arizona and Nevada, as she then went to Nevada for a rally at the same location where Trump spoke two weeks prior.Trump has been actively criticising her in these states, especially on immigration.
Harris knows that the stakes are high but she also acknowledged the margins to be low. She called it a “margin-of-error” race, but confidently added, “The election is here, and let me be clear. We are going to win.”
Harris quipped to the audience, “My crowds are pretty big,” as she prepared to speak in Nevada, at the same venue where Trump had held a rally earlier. During the presidential debate, Harris appeared to get under Trump’s skin by pointing out that people were leaving his rallies early due to his rambling speeches. She has continued with this line of attack on the campaign trail.
Her four-day West Coast trip combined campaign fundraising in California with stops in battleground states, shows that the race to the White House is going to be a close one.
Harris’s visit to the US-Mexico border in Douglas, Arizona, her first since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, was likely intended to address immigration. Trump has spent days attacking her, claiming she would allow a border “invasion” and lead to lawlessness.
Harris brushed off his accusations, responding, “We just see the same old tired show from the same old tired playbook,” as some in the audience shouted “boring!” in agreement.
Notably, the star-studded fundraiser, which was held in Los Angeles, featured performances by Halle Bailey and Alanis Morissette and was attended by celebrities like Stevie Wonder, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Demi Lovato, and Jessica Alba. Harris has also been gaining Republican support, with former Arizona Sen Jeff Flake endorsing her, praising her “fine character and love of country.”
Flake joins other anti-Trump Republicans, such as Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz, in backing Harris. However, Maryland Senate candidate Larry Hogan, another critic of Trump, said Harris has yet to earn his vote, although Trump won’t receive his support either.
In Nevada, where Harris held a rally Sunday night, she highlighted her promise to eliminate federal taxes on tips for service industry workers, echoing a similar pledge made by Trump.
However, Harris went further by promising to tackle the “sub-minimum wage” practice, where employers pay workers lower salaries and rely on tips to meet wage requirements. Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of Nevada’s Culinary Union, said, “That shows us she’s serious.”
Harris will return to Nevada on October 10 for a town hall with Hispanic voters, further emphasising the importance of the state’s six electoral votes in an election that is expected to be exceedingly close. Both she and Trump have made frequent visits to Nevada, which shows its significance in the race for the White House.