In a fiery debut rally, US Vice President Kamala Harris launched her White House campaign with a blistering attack on Donald Trump, framing the upcoming election as a choice between a seasoned prosecutor and a convicted felon. Speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 in the crucial swing state of Wisconsin, Harris drew parallels between her Republican opponent and the fraudsters she prosecuted during her tenure as California’s attorney general.
“I took on perpetrators of all kinds,” Harris declared to a cheering audience at a high school in a Milwaukee suburb. “Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain.” She continued, “So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type. In this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week.”
The crowd erupted in chants of “Kamala! Kamala!”—a stark contrast to the more subdued atmosphere often seen at Joe Biden’s events this election cycle. When Trump’s name was mentioned, attendees echoed the “lock him up” refrain, reminiscent of Trump’s own rallies during his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton.
Trump, meanwhile, took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticize Harris, labeling her “Lyin’ Kamala Harris” and claiming she “destroys everything she touches.” He also highlighted a poll that ranked Harris as the most unpopular vice president in US history and shared a post noting her left-wing congressional record.
Harris’s campaign has gained significant momentum following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Biden announced his decision on Sunday, endorsing Harris amid mounting pressure from top Democrats and donors after his disastrous debate performance against Trump in late June. In the 36 hours following Biden’s exit, the Harris campaign raised over $100 million (£77 million). A new national poll from Reuters and Ipsos shows Harris with a two-point lead over Trump, 44% to 42%.
In her speech, Harris outlined a series of liberal priorities, including gun control, abortion access, child poverty, union rights, and affordable healthcare. “Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?” she asked the crowd.
While Harris’s current momentum is impressive, pollster Tony Fabrizio predicts her “honeymoon” period with voters will end, refocusing attention on her role as Biden’s partner. The Trump campaign has already begun attacking Harris’s record on immigration, crime, and inflation, accusing her of bailing out violent offenders, insulting Israel, and deceiving the public about Biden’s cognitive decline.
Trump also expressed his willingness to debate Harris in September, stating, “I haven’t agreed to anything. I agreed to a debate with Joe Biden. But I want to debate her. She’ll be no different.”
Harris has secured endorsements from prominent Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as Hollywood stars like George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Her campaign is currently vetting potential running mates, with strategists suggesting she may choose a white man from a swing state to complement her candidacy.
President Biden is set to deliver an Oval Office speech on Wednesday, explaining his decision to withdraw from the race. Meanwhile, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, Tennessee’s Andy Ogles, introduced articles of impeachment against Harris, accusing her of high crimes and misdemeanors over her handling of immigration at the border. The resolution is considered unlikely to advance.
