Kamala joins Oprah Winfrey in Star-Studded push to energize voters ahead election

Vice President Kamala Harris took center stage alongside media icon Oprah Winfrey in a high-profile livestream event aimed at undecided voters, as the Democratic campaign for the upcoming election pivots away from traditional media channels.

The “Unite for America” event, held in Michigan on Thursday, featured an impressive lineup of celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, Julia Roberts, and Meryl Streep, alongside everyday Americans impacted by critical issues like abortion and gun control.

In her conversation with Winfrey, Harris framed her campaign as a movement for unity. “I think in this moment where we’ve dealt with so much that I think is quite exhausting… this movement is about reminding each other that we have so much more in common than what separates,” she said, emphasizing the importance of collective strength in a divisive political climate.

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Winfrey praised Harris for her “newfound confidence” since becoming the Democratic nominee, prompting Harris to reflect on her sense of responsibility. “You know we each have those moments in our lives when it’s time to step up,” Harris replied. “I felt a sense of responsibility, to be honest with you, and with that comes a sense of purpose.”

The Vice President elaborated on her policy proposals, including tax incentives aimed at fostering an “opportunity economy.” “Part of my plan is to give start-up small businesses a $50,000 tax deduction to start up their small business. Right now, it’s $5,000. Nobody can start a small business with $5,000,” she asserted.

In an attempt to broaden her appeal, Harris also engaged with gun owners, a demographic that typically skews Republican. “I’m a gun owner, Tim Walz is a gun owner,” she said, referencing her running mate. “If somebody breaks in my house they’re getting shot,” she joked, acknowledging the potential for controversy with a laugh.

The event also featured poignant testimonies from audience members, including 22-year-old Hadley Duvall, who became an abortion rights activist after experiencing trauma at a young age. “You can’t wait until it’s too late to care about reproductive healthcare, because then it’s too late,” Duvall stated, underscoring the urgency of the issues at hand.

Despite her dynamic outreach, Harris has faced criticism for her avoidance of traditional media, with reports indicating she and Walz are on track for fewer press engagements than any modern presidential ticket. Recent polling shows a tight race between Harris and former President Donald Trump, with a New York Times/Siena poll revealing them tied at 47 percent, although Harris holds a slight lead in pivotal battleground states like Pennsylvania.