LOS ANGELES (AP) – Vice President Kamala Harris mocked Republican Donald Trump on Sunday during a flashy fundraiser, telling donors “the crowds are pretty big” as he campaigned across the country. – where the Republican candidate appeared two weeks ago before heading to Nevada for a rally at the same venue.
During the presidential debate, Harris seemed angry with Trump, saying people were leaving rallies early because of Trump’s rambling speeches. And she has been campaigning.
She also visited the Arizona border town of Douglas on Friday, a migrant zone considered by President Trump. It was her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since replacing President Joe Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket.
Harris’ four-day West Coast trip is planned for two purposes. Harris began and ended her campaign with stops in Sun Belt battleground states Arizona and Nevada, where the vice president is trying to shore up support as President Trump relentlessly attacks her on illegal immigration. And half of her stay in California was devoted to raising campaign funds from donors in her home blue state.
Harris’ visit to the Arizona border appears to have irritated Trump. Republican leaders spent two days abusing the vice president during rallies, mounting personal attacks against her and claiming the vice president was responsible for the border “invasion” rather than a state of lawlessness if he were elected. It stirred up unfounded fears.
Ms. Harris had the same reaction to her insults, even though President Trump called her “mentally ill.”
“We’re just watching the same old boring show with the same old boring scenario,” she told a crowd of donors in Los Angeles, some of whom shouted, “It’s boring!” there was. Accordingly.
Mr Harris warned that the race was extremely close and one with “margin of error”. But on Sunday in Los Angeles, she added: “As the election approaches, let me be clear: We are going to win.”
The fundraiser attracted celebrities including Stevie Wonder, Keegan Michael-Key, Sterling K. Brown, Demi Lovato, Jessica Alba and Lily Tomlin. Performing in front of an audience: Halle Bailey and Alanis Morissette.
A fundraiser in Los Angeles and one in San Francisco the day before raised a combined $55 million for the Harris campaign.
The vice president continues to enjoy Republican support. Former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake recently endorsed her. He praised Harris’ “good character and love of country” and said he wanted a president who would not antagonize political opponents or seek to subvert the will of voters.
Flake, a longtime critic of the former president, joins a growing list of anti-Trump Republicans, including conservative former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz, who have said they will vote for the Democratic candidate.
But Maryland Sen. Larry Hogan, a former Republican governor and harsh critic of President Trump, said that while President Trump won’t get any votes, Harris hasn’t gotten any votes yet.
In Nevada, where Harris held a rally Sunday night, all voters will automatically receive a ballot by mail unless they opt out. This is a pandemic-era change mandated by state law. That means most ballots could start being shipped within weeks.
Harris is scheduled to return to Las Vegas on October 10th to address a town hall with Hispanic voters. Both she and Trump frequently campaign in the city, and Nevada’s six electoral votes could play a key role in determining the outcome of what is expected to be a close election. is highlighted.
President Trump held his Las Vegas rally at the Expo World Market Center on September 13, and Harris was scheduled to speak there on Sunday. She also held events at the same venues used by President Trump in Milwaukee, Atlanta and the Phoenix suburbs.
During a campaign stop in Las Vegas in June, Trump promised to eliminate taxes on tips received by thousands of waiters, hotel workers and other service industry workers. Harris used her Las Vegas rally in August to make the same promise.
Completely eliminating the federal tax on tips would likely require legislation from Congress. Still, the Nevada Culinary Union, which represents 60,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas and Reno, supports Harris.
Ted Pappageorge, secretary and treasurer of the Culinary Union, said the difference between competing tip-free proposals is that employers pay service workers a small wage, which the union considers “below minimum wage.” He said Harris is also committed to addressing the issue of pay. By expecting your employees to top up their tips, you increase their pay and meet minimum wage standards.
“It shows she’s serious,” Papageorge said.
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Long report from Washington.
