Harris, Trump hit battleground states as election nears

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has launched competing campaign blitzes in key battleground states, hoping to sway undecided voters. Harris embraced celebrity endorsements, joining forces with musicians Lizzo and Usher at events in Michigan and Georgia, while Trump rallied supporters in Pennsylvania.

At a rally in Atlanta, Harris took aim at Trump’s rhetoric, labeling him “cruel” for his comments about Amber Thurman, a Georgia mother who tragically died after being denied timely medical care due to state abortion restrictions. “Donald Trump still refuses to take accountability, to take any accountability, for the pain and the suffering he has caused,” Harris declared, emphasizing her commitment to restoring reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Thurman’s story is central to one of Harris’s closing campaign ads, and her family attended the rally, with her mother holding a photo of Thurman. Harris criticized Trump’s dismissive remark during a Fox News town hall, where he suggested that media coverage of the Thurman family would boost ratings.

With early voting already underway in Georgia, where over 1.2 million ballots have been cast, Harris urged voters to take action. She referenced former President Jimmy Carter, who recently voted by mail at the age of 100. “If Jimmy Carter can vote early, you can too,” she encouraged the crowd.

Usher, who joined Harris in Atlanta, also rallied support, saying, “This is the swing state of all swing states, so every last vote here counts.” Lizzo, speaking in Detroit, celebrated the city’s cultural significance, stating, “All the best things were made in Detroit. Coney Dogs, Faygo and Lizzo.” She emphasized the importance of female leadership, declaring, “It’s about damn time!” in reference to a potential woman president.

Meanwhile, Trump held a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he spent over ten minutes praising the late golfer Arnold Palmer, even making an off-color joke about Palmer’s masculinity. Trump’s approach, however, lacked a fresh narrative as he primarily revisited familiar campaign themes, touting his past accomplishments while criticizing President Joe Biden.

As Trump began previewing his closing argument against Harris, he emphasized his administration’s strong tax policies and military achievements. He also criticized Biden’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who responded by reaffirming Israel’s independence in decision-making regarding national interests.

Harris, sharpening her attacks on Trump, has recently characterized him as “increasingly unstable and unhinged,” a sentiment echoed by former President Barack Obama at a recent Arizona campaign event. With just weeks left before the election, both candidates are pulling out all the stops to secure their positions in these critical states.