Harris will deliver her campaign’s closing argument at the Ellipse, where Trump helped spark the Capitol riot

ASTON, Pa. (AP) — Vice president Kamala Harris plans to deliver the closing speech of his campaign, returning to a location near the White House where Donald Trump helped incite the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 — hoping it will crystallize for voters the struggle between defending democracy and sowing political chaos.

Her campaign says Harris will deliver a speech at the Ellipse on Tuesday – every week before Election Day – and will urge the nation to “turn the page” towards a brand new era, away from Trump.

The site is symbolic because on January 6, 2021, Trump delivered a speech there as Congress was meeting to verify Joe Biden’s victory in the election that took place last November. In it, Trump repeatedly lied about widespread voter fraud that didn’t occur and exhorted supporters to fight back. Then a whole bunch stormed the Capitol In deadly rise up.

Word of the speech got here from a senior Harris campaign official who insisted on anonymity to debate the address, which continues to be being developed. Harris’ campaign is betting that her Ellipse speech will be a chance for the vp to emphasise that the country now not desires to be defined by the political prowess that Trump seems to relish.

Trump has promised to pardon people imprisoned for his or her roles in the attack on the Capitol if he regains the presidency during the November 5 election.

Closing arguments are a vital opportunity for candidates to summarize their campaigns and briefly explain why voters should support them. The Trump campaign suggested he would begin formulating his closing statement during his speech at a rally last weekend in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Instead, the former president spent greater than 10 minutes speaking of genitals the late, legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, who was born in Latrobe.

Her team announced the Ellipse speech before Harris appeared on Wednesday night at a CNN town hall in suburban Philadelphia, where she took questions from an audience of undecided voters in what was once imagined as a debate with Trump. Harris said she would take part in the CNN debate, but the two sides never reached a proper agreement. CNN reported that it also invited Trump to the town hall. but let that not occur.

Harris told the crowd that on January 6, “the president of the United States defied the will of the people in a free and fair election and unleashed a violent mob that attacked the United States Capitol.”

The first query from the audience got here from a self-described “anti-Trump Republican” who was concerned about the January 6 attack.

“I believe the American people deserve better and deserve a president who is focused on solutions, not sitting in the Oval Office every day conspiring,” Harris said.

As for January 6, about 4 in 10 likely voters in… CNN poll from September said the economy was the most vital factor for them when deciding how one can vote, and about 2 in 10 said protecting democracy was the most vital factor. That in comparison with about 1 in 10 individuals who listed immigration, abortion and reproductive rights as their last name.

Protecting democracy also appears more vital to Democrats and Harris supporters. About 4 in 10 voters who support Harris say that is the most vital issue, compared with about 2 in 10 voters who say this about the economy. According to Republicans and Trump supporters, about 6 in 10 people list the economy as their top voting issue, followed by immigration. Only 5% of Trump supporters said protecting democracy was their most vital issue.

During the town hall, Harris said Trump was “increasingly unstable and unfit to serve.” When asked directly if she believed her opponent was a fascist, Harris replied: “Yes, I do.”

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A short while later, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt responded: “Kamala will say anything to divert attention from the open border invasion and record high inflation.”

During the event, Harris was asked how her presidency will be different from Biden’s, provided that she has been a part of his administration for nearly 4 years – a matter she has answered in recent weeks without enumerating the foremost contrasts. This time, Harris seemed higher prepared to discuss how things can be different, saying, “My administration will not be a continuation of the Biden administration” and saying she represents “a new generation of leadership on many issues.”

“I’m pointing out things that haven’t been done that need to be done,” the vp said of Biden’s policies, also noting: “I won’t hesitate to say, ‘Hey, these are still problems.’ we have to fix it.” She specifically pointed to her guarantees to extend federal subsidies for small businesses and expand government funding for home health care to individuals who take care of each elderly parents and youngsters.

One viewer pressed Harris on key issues, which she didn’t do. That includes hydraulic fracturing, which she suggested she would support banning while running in the 2020 Democratic primary but now says should proceed. Harris said Wednesday that the U.S. can put money into a greener energy economy without stopping fracking, which is crucial to the economy in parts of Pennsylvania.

She added that she now sees many key policies otherwise: “Honestly, I now have the experience and perspective of being vice president.”

When asked about the biggest weakness she would bring to the White House, Harris replied, “I admit I’m quite a nerd sometimes,” while admitting to creating “parenting mistakes” with her two stepchildren.

The vp also mentioned every day prayer, saying, “I was raised to believe in a loving God, to believe that faith is a verb.”