Authors: Stephanie Kelly, Jeff Mason, and Tim Reed
(Reuters) – Vice President Kamala Harris described herself as a “loser” within the presidential race and known as her Republican rival Donald Trump “simply so bizarre” whereas Trump Describing Harris as “evil,” “sick,” and “unhinged.”
The showdown capped a whirlwind week that put Harris on the high of the Democratic ticket after President Joe Biden, 81, dropped his re-election bid amid rising strain from fellow Democrats. A collection of polls confirmed the addition of Harris erased Trump’s lead over Biden in simply days.
Harris, who spoke at a non-public fundraiser in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, hosted by singer-songwriter James Taylor, mentioned Trump and his operating mate, U.S. Sen. J.D. (NASDAQ: ) Wan A lot of Si’s feedback had been “simply downright weird.”
Her use of the phrase “bizarre” to explain her opponents is a part of a brand new Democratic technique. The Harris marketing campaign known as Trump “previous and peculiar” after Trump appeared on Fox Information on Thursday, and not less than one supporter confirmed up outdoors Saturday’s occasion holding an indication saying “Trump is bizarre.”
As she has performed at a collection of marketing campaign occasions this week, Harris, 59, as soon as once more contrasted her background as a prosecutor with Trump’s document as a convicted felon and mentioned her The marketing campaign is concerning the future, and Trump, 78, desires to return the nation to its “darkish previous.”
Hours later, Trump launched a collection of hyperbolic assaults at a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, claiming Harris would “destroy the nation” and criticizing her on points starting from public security to immigration.
“If loopy liberals like Kamala Harris take part, the American dream will likely be shattered,” Trump mentioned, including that Harris was “even worse” than Biden.
The previous president’s speech was crammed with acquainted grievances and false claims of election fraud, making it clear that his transient appeals for unity within the wake of the assassination two weeks in the past have utterly evaporated.
“I am making an attempt to be good. All of them say, ‘I believe he is modified,'” Trump mentioned. “No, I have never modified. Possibly I’ve gotten worse.”
The previous president’s occasion at an 8,000-seat ice area adopted U.S. Secret Service recommendation that he keep away from giant out of doors occasions following the assassination at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Trump mentioned on his reality social community on Saturday that he would proceed to carry out of doors rallies and that the Secret Service had “agreed to considerably improve operations” to guard him.
Minnesota has not elected a Republican presidential candidate in 52 years, however the Trump marketing campaign believes that’s more and more doable after Biden’s ballot numbers dropped following his poor efficiency on the June 27 debate.
Nonetheless, Harris’ taking on has breathed new vitality right into a marketing campaign that has been severely shaken by Democratic doubts about Biden’s possibilities of defeating Trump or his capability to remain in energy if profitable.
Harris, the primary black lady and Asian American to function vice chairman, raised greater than $100 million within the 36 hours after Biden determined to drop out of the race. Her marketing campaign mentioned Saturday’s fundraiser raised greater than $1.4 million from about 800 individuals.
Shannon Watts, founding father of Mothers Demand Motion, a gun security group with about 10 million members, advised MSNBC on Saturday that greater than 200,000 individuals participated in a Zoom name Thursday to assist the Help for Harris has constructed amongst white girls, elevating greater than $11 million.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump spoke at a cryptocurrency convention in Nashville, a part of a broader Republican effort to draw cryptocurrency fans forward of the Nov. 5 election.
He has vowed to make the US the “cryptocurrency capital of the world,” a far cry from his stance in 2021, when he known as Bitcoin a “fraud.” Trump warned that if the US doesn’t settle for cryptocurrencies, China and different international locations will too, and promised to enact industry-friendly rules if elected. China at present bans cryptocurrencies.
Trump spoke at a conservative rally on Friday forward of Saturday’s rally, when he advised Christians that in the event that they vote for him in November, “in 4 years, you will not must vote once more. We are going to It is settled effectively sufficient that you do not have to vote.
It is unclear what the previous president meant, however Democrats instantly seized on his phrases as proof that he stays a risk to democracy 4 years after his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election that led to the January 6, 2021 U.S. The Capitol was beneath assault.
