Vice President Kamala Harris was impressed by Joe Biden during her first campaign rally as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in the crucial state of Wisconsin. She also took on Donald Trump in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
It’s been a hectic 48 hours since President Biden stepped aside from the presidential race and endorsed Harris.
Harris’ visit to Milwaukee came less than 12 hours after it was confirmed that she had secured enough Democratic delegates to secure her party’s presidential nomination.
“We’ve earned the support of enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination,” Harris said. “It’s a great honor to have Joe Biden’s support in the presidential race.”
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to voters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday during her first campaign rally after winning enough delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination
The vice president started off strong by making a case against Trump, whom she called a “fraud.”
She spoke about her role as a prosecutor, which involves taking on “perpetrators of all kinds,” including “predators who abuse women, fraudsters who defraud consumers, con artists who break the rules for their own gain.”
“So listen to me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type,” Harris said. The crowd roared as some chanted “lock him up.”
“I promise you I will proudly compare my record against his every day of the week,” Harris said.
The vice president went on to contrast her background as California’s attorney general cracking down on for-profit schools with Trump running a for-profit school that was shut down. She praised the jailing of predators and criticized Trump for being found liable for sexual abuse.
The vice president also noted that the former president was found guilty on 34 charges by a New York jury earlier this year.
Vice President Harris praised Biden during her remarks, calling it one of the greatest honors to serve as his vice president. She also took aim at Donald Trump, denouncing him as a “cheat” and a “fraud” and touting her record as a prosecutor
Biden dropped out of the presidential race on Sunday, sending shockwaves through the presidential race. Harris announced shortly afterward that she would seek the nomination, vowing to earn every vote.
Harris praised Biden at the beginning of her speech, calling it ““One of the greatest honors of my life is to be vice president to our President Joe Biden.”
She said Biden’s legacy of accomplishments throughout his term and the past three and a half years is “unmatched in modern history,” and argued that in one term he has surpassed the legacy of most presidents who served two terms.
“We are all extremely grateful to him for his continued commitment to our country,” she said.
Harris spent most of Sunday with her team trying to drum up support among Democratic leaders and lawmakers.
Within 24 hours, her campaign raised $81 million, the most of any presidential candidate in a 24-hour period ever. Shortly after, the campaign said the amount had surpassed $100 million.
Other Democratic groups and state parties have also said they have seen an increase in donations as changes at the top of the list have reinvigorated donors.
As Harris attacked Trump, accusing Republicans of focusing on the past and saying “we’re not going back,” she also began to outline her vision for the future. She promised that one of her main goals for her presidency would be to “build the middle class.”
“Our fight is a fight for the future, and it’s a fight for freedom,” Harris said. She spoke about voting rights, passing an assault weapons ban and protecting reproductive freedoms.
According to Harris’ campaign, 3,000 people attended her rally at West Allis Central High School on July 23
Harris’ visit to Milwaukee came just days after the city hosted the Republican National Convention, where Trump accepted the Republican nomination for president last Thursday.
Wisconsin is part of the blue wall Democrats are hoping to win in November. Trump won the state in 2016, but in 2020 it went blue again for Biden and Harris.
“The road to the White House is through Wisconsin. And to win in Wisconsin, we’re counting on you here in Milwaukee,” she said. “You all helped us win in 2020. We’ll win again in 2024.”
As Democrats waited for Harris to take the stage, they chanted “Ka-ma-la” and waved signs with her first name, “KAMALA,” in the air.
It was a diverse crowd of people of all ages and ethnicities. Some had brought young children, others had come with friends. Several people were spotted in union shirts.
Harris’ first campaign speech as the presumptive Democratic nominee came an hour after two more Democratic opponents endorsed her.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries have finally thrown their support behind the presidential race after Biden withdrew on Sunday.
Jeffries said in the long-awaited announcement: “Joe Biden will go down in American history as one of the most influential presidents of all time. President Joe Biden has made the selfless decision to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is ready, willing and able to lead us into the future.”
Jeffries indicated that he and Schumer had delayed the endorsement so Harris could drum up grassroots support.
“Vice President Harris earned the nomination from the grassroots, not from the top,” he said.
Harris’ first campaign speech as the presumptive Democratic nominee came an hour after two other Democratic opponents endorsed her
Their endorsements follow support pouring in from rank-and-file Democrats. No other high-profile Democrat has emerged to challenge Harris, and she has now garnered enough delegate support to win the nomination.
Notably, former President Barack Obama has yet to endorse Kamala, saying vaguely that he would support the Democrats’ next “excellent candidate.”