Vice President Kamala Harris took her campaign to Wisconsin on Tuesday, marking her first visit to a battleground state since securing the Democratic nomination support from delegates. This move comes just two days after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection, endorsing Harris as his successor.
In Milwaukee, Harris held her inaugural campaign rally, emphasizing her prosecutorial background to highlight her readiness to challenge the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump. Harris, who has raised over $100 million since her campaign launch on Sunday, has garnered widespread backing from Democratic leaders and groups, including Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“She’s prepared to meet this moment because she was professionally trained to prosecute a criminal, and unfortunately that’s who the Republicans have put forward,” said Senator Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., underscoring Harris’ qualifications.
Harris’ campaign stop in Milwaukee, initially scheduled before Biden’s announcement, gained new significance as she aims to project stability and confidence amid recent Democratic Party uncertainty over Biden’s political future. Wisconsin, a crucial part of the Democrats’ “blue wall” along with Michigan and Pennsylvania, remains vital for their electoral strategy.
During a Monday visit to her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris previewed key themes for her campaign. She juxtaposed her career as a prosecutor with Trump’s criminal convictions, declaring, “I know Donald Trump’s type.” Harris positioned herself as a champion of economic opportunity and reproductive rights.
“This election will present a clear choice between two different visions,” Harris said in a statement. “Donald Trump wants to take our country back to a time before many of us had full freedoms and equal rights. I believe in a future that strengthens our democracy, protects reproductive freedom, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead.”
Harris expressed gratitude to President Biden and the Democratic Party for their support and emphasized her eagerness to connect with voters nationwide. By Monday evening, Harris had secured the support of more than the required 1,976 delegates needed for a first-ballot nomination, according to the AP tally. No other candidates were named by delegates contacted by the AP.
However, the AP has not yet declared Harris the presumptive nominee as delegates are free to vote for any candidate at the convention in August, or during a potential virtual roll call.
Trump’s campaign has swiftly adjusted its focus to Harris, branding her “Lyin’ Kamala Harris” and criticizing her prosecutorial record and the administration’s border policies. Trump has also suggested relocating the planned second presidential debate from ABC News to Fox News, which is perceived as more favorable to him.
Joining Harris in Wisconsin were key Democratic officials, including Gov. Tony Evers, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler.
Conversely, Wisconsin Republican leaders labeled Harris as an “extreme liberal” misaligned with the state’s voters. “Kamala Harris’ favorables are as bad as Joe Biden’s,” stated Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming, suggesting the Democrats are merely substituting one unfavorable candidate with another.
Harris’ campaign is set to intensify as she continues to draw distinctions between her vision for America and that of her Republican opponent, focusing on themes of justice, equity, and progress.
Credit: AP
