WASINGTON:
During a campaign appearance in Pennsylvania on Sunday, US Vice President Kamala Harris indirectly criticised former President Donald Trump, implying that he is a “coward” who focuses on undermining his opponents. The event took place in the crucial battleground state with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, ahead of Harris’s participation in the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Harris addressed her supporters, stating that in recent years, there has been a “perversion” in politics, where the strength of a leader is measured by how they “beat down” others. She argued that true leadership is shown by lifting others up, suggesting that those who focus on tearing people down are cowards. Although Harris did not directly mention Trump by name, her remarks came just a day after Trump referred to her as a “radical” and a “lunatic” during his campaign stop in eastern Pennsylvania.
Recent opinion polls indicate that Harris has energised her campaign, closing the gap with Trump both nationally and in several key battleground states, including Pennsylvania. Should she win the November election, Harris would become the first woman president of the United States, as well as the first person of Black and Asian heritage to hold the office.
Trump, who believes Harris would be an easier opponent to defeat than President Joe Biden, continues to target Pennsylvania, a pivotal state in his 2016 victory. Biden, who was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, managed to flip the state back to the Democrats in the 2020 election, and Harris is determined to maintain that advantage.
Sources suggest that Harris may join Biden on stage at the Democratic National Convention as he officially hands over the mantle of the party’s nominee for president. Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign is planning a series of events in swing states to coincide with the convention. These include a visit to a manufacturing facility in York, Pennsylvania, where Trump plans to discuss the economy, and a stop at a sheriff’s office in Howell, Michigan, to address safety and crime.
Throughout the week, Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, will also focus on national security in North Carolina and will attend a rally in Arizona with Turning Point Action, a conservative group led by Charlie Kirk. Trump’s supporters, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have expressed hope that Trump will shift his campaign focus to policy issues rather than continuing his personal attacks on Harris. Graham emphasised that Trump’s policies resonate with voters and that focusing on policy debates is crucial for winning the election, rather than relying on his provocative and showman-like persona.
As the election approaches, the battle for key states like Pennsylvania will be critical in determining the outcome of the race between Harris and Trump. Both candidates are intensifying their efforts to secure support in these decisive regions.