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    • Kamala Harris rallies crowds in swing state PA at Allentown rally
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    Kamala Harris rallies crowds in swing state PA at Allentown rally

    Pabio Posted on

    Lindsay Weber and Daniel Patrick Sheehan
    | Morning call

    During her first and only campaign visit to the Lehigh Valley, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris did not once mention her Republican opponent by name — but former President Donald Trump was occupying an important place as she sought to contrast what she called her message. of “fear and division” with that of unity and hope.

    In front of a crowd filling Memorial Hall at Muhlenberg College in Allentown Monday afternoon, Harris acknowledged the hard work needed to get voters to the polls on Election Day.

    “Pennsylvania, the race is not over yet,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do. We have to finish strong.

    However, Harris, who polls indicate is in an extremely tight race with Trump, said “the momentum is on our side” and added that “it’s time for a new generation of leadership in America “.

    “I am ready to provide that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.”

    Harris’ appearance on the eve of the election came on the same day that Trump was campaigning in Reading, as both candidates sought to mobilize their voters to the polls. Trump also visited Allentown last week for a rally at the PPL Center.

    Harris spoke for just over 20 minutes before leaving for additional campaigning appearances in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

    More: Kamala Harris, Lady Gaga and Oprah will gather in Philadelphia: where they will be

    “Pennsylvania, I’m here to ask for your vote,” Harris said. “I am here to ask for your vote, and here is my commitment to you: As President, I am committed to seeking common ground and common-sense solutions to the challenges you face. I’m not trying to score political points. I’m looking to progress. I commit to you to listen to those who will be affected by the decisions to be made, to listen to the experts, and to listen to those who disagree with me. Because I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are enemies. » Prior to his remarks, several Democrats also spoke on his behalf, including Rep. Susan Wild, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk.

    Harris pledged to protect abortion rights, strengthen the economy by cutting taxes on the middle class and raising them on the wealthiest, and reaching out across the aisle. went to find a compromise with Democrats and Republicans. She drew on her own upbringing – she was raised by a single mother who immigrated to the United States at age 19 – and said she had “lived the promise of America.”

    “I will be the president of all Americans,” Harris said.

    Harris was joined at the rally by rapper Fat Joe, who spoke for about six minutes, imploring undecided Latinos to vote for Harris, asking, “Where’s your orgullo?” Where is your pride?

    He was followed by Elizabeth Strong, a local business owner of Puerto Rican descent, who introduced the vice president as someone who would be president of “all Americans, including Puerto Ricans.”

    Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke that Puerto Rico is a “floating island of garbage” — delivered at a recent Trump rally at Madison Square Garden — received no fewer than four mentions by speakers who preceded Harris, so that his supporters sought to pounce on racism. comment that outraged many Puerto Ricans.

    Puerto Rican salsa singer Frankie Negron, who performed on stage for about 15 minutes, also urged the crowd to sing one of his songs that included the lyrics “respeta mi gente,” which means “respect my people” in Spanish.

    Allentown is more than 50% Latino, and approximately 33,000 residents are of Puerto Rican descent. Harris, Walz and their surrogates focused on potential Latino voters — including Puerto Ricans — in the Lehigh Valley region, considered a key voting bloc in Pennsylvania.

    “Puerto Rico is not a floating island of garbage,” Strong said. “Pennsylvania, let me ask you this: Are you ready for a new generation of leadership?

    Harris said she was “proud of my long-standing commitment to Puerto Rico and its people.”

    Harris was briefly interrupted about eight minutes into his speech by a lone female protester. It was difficult to hear what the protester was shouting as she was kicked out of the room.

    “I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy…we’re fighting for a democracy right now,” Harris said, turning to the protester. “We love our democracy, and democracy can sometimes be a little complicated. »

    According to the campaign, there were about 2,500 people in the gymnasium and another 1,700 in an overflow room.

    A small group of Trump supporters, including many students, walked alongside the crowd as they waited outside.

    Alex Harby, 21, a junior from Muhlenberg with a double major in finance and economics, draped himself in a Trump 2024 flag and joined about 20 other Trump supporters on Liberty Street. Most were students loosely united in Republican support but not part of an official club; several did not wish to be identified.

    Harby, a South Carolina native, describes himself as an economic and social conservative who believes Trump is the strongest option for improving the economy. He scoffs at the idea that Trump poses a threat to democracy.

    “Democracy is going nowhere,” he said. “There are statuses and limits. This is why we have three branches of government. The only thing that threatens democracy is the implementation of socialist ideas by those in power.”

    The presence of Trump supporters irked some Harris fans. Harby said he was called a pedophile, a Putin sympathizer and a terrorist.

    Trump supporters, for the most part, responded with “God bless you,” although a few offered firmer, harsher responses.

    Pabio
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