US Elections 2024 – Voice of America (VOA News)

US Vice President Kamala Harris attacked Donald Trump on Tuesday during her first campaign rally since replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee.

In a 17-minute speech, Harris took aim at Trump’s vulnerabilities, comparing her background as a former prosecutor to his past as a convicted felon.

Harris listed liberal priorities, saying that if elected, she would expand access to abortion, make it easier for workers to join unions and tackle gun violence, a sharp contrast to Trump, the Republican presidential nominee in the Nov. 5 election.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country back to the future,” she told a cheering crowd of thousands at West Allis Central High School in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a state that will play a crucial role in the election outcome.

“Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and the rule of law, or in a country of chaos, fear and hate?”

The raucous gathering was a striking contrast to the smaller, more subdued events Biden has held, and underscored Democrats’ hopes that Harris, 59, can revive her campaign under Biden, 81. The crowd danced and waved Harris signs as they chanted “Ka-ma-la!” as she took the stage.

She stressed her commitment to reproductive rights, an issue that has dogged Republicans since the U.S. Supreme Court — controlled by three Trump-appointed justices — struck down the nationwide right to abortion in 2022.

Trump and his allies have tried to rope Harris into some of Biden’s unpopular policies, including his administration’s handling of the influx of migrants at the southern border with Mexico.

In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Trump indicated he was confident he could beat Harris, noting that her previous presidential campaign in 2020 only advanced to the first statewide nomination battle.

Trump offered to debate Harris several times. Trump and Biden had another debate scheduled for Sept. 10 after their June 27 meeting. Biden’s poor performance that night led to Democratic calls to oust him.

“I want to debate her and she will be no different because they have the same policies,” Trump said.

Harris quickly solidified her party’s support after Biden ended his reelection campaign amid pressure from members of his party who feared he would be unable to defeat the 78-year-old Trump or serve another four-year term.

Harris has received pledges from enough delegates to win the nomination, the campaign said. But nothing is certain until next month’s Democratic National Convention, when delegates will vote to determine the nominee.

According to her campaign, $100 million has been raised since Sunday.

Most Democratic lawmakers have thrown their support behind her candidacy, including Senate and House leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, who endorsed Harris during a joint news conference on Tuesday.

Harris’ rise dramatically changes an election in which many voters were dissatisfied with their options. As the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president, she would go on to make history as the first woman elected president of the United States.

Wisconsin is one of three Rust Belt states, along with Michigan and Pennsylvania, that are critical to Democrats’ chances of defeating Trump.

Alyssa Wahlberg, 19, chair of the Whitewater College Democrats, said Harris had revitalized young voters, particularly women who want Harris to break the ultimate glass ceiling in the US.

“I’ve talked to my grandmother. We’re both excited that she gets to experience the first woman president,” Wahlberg said during Tuesday’s meeting. “It’s been too long.”