PHILADELPHIA- A day before the first — and possibly only — debate this cycle between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined Pennsylvania Democrats on Monday to rally support for the Democratic nominee.
“I’m here in Pennsylvania because the facts tell us that the decision that’s going to be made here in the state of Pennsylvania is going to have a very direct impact on the people of my state as well,” Moore said Monday during a news conference at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Moore has ties to the Philadelphia area: he He graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Philadelphia Suburbs. He was joined at the event by state Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, and U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-4th District).
Moore compared Harris’ economic agenda to Trump and Project 2025 — a conservative policy plan written by the Heritage Foundation that would overhaul the federal government — and was hopeful about Harris’ chances in Tuesday’s debate.
“She will succeed. And I don’t think there is, or should be, any doubt about that, but more importantly, it’s not just that she’ll win the debate, and frankly, it’s not that she’ll win the debate or the election because her opponent is weak. It’s that her policies are strong,” he said.
Dean also expressed optimism about Harris and stressed the importance of the debate on Tuesday.
“She’s a gifted storyteller, a gifted prosecutor, and I think this is a case that needs to be prosecuted for the future of America,” Dean said of Harris.
Trump campaign spokesman Kush Desai criticized Moore in a statement, pointing to the recent controversy surrounding Maryland Governor’s False Claim from 20 Years Ago that he had received the Bronze Star – in fact, he was recommended for it but did not receive it. Moore apologized for failing to correct recent interviews in which the medal was mentioned.
“The reality that he can’t evade or lie about, however, is that the last thing Pennsylvanians — or Marylanders for that matter — need is another four years of rising prices and a rampant border crisis that will bring crime and drugs into our communities under a Kamala Harris administration,” Desai said.
After President Joe Biden’s impoverished performance in a June debate with Trump, he dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.
AND CBS News Poll released Sunday showed Harris and Trump each have 50 percent support among likely voters in the Keystone State.
Moore told reporters Monday that undecided voters are not the only ones Harris will reach during Tuesday night’s debate.
“It’s the voters who are skeptical of the broader political system,” Moore said. “It’s the voters who need to come out because on many issues, this election is not going to be decided by how people vote. This election is going to be decided by the people who choose to vote and the people who choose not to vote.”
In response to a reporter’s question, Moore said he didn’t think Harris spent time fact-checking Trump, but that no one should be surprised “when the former president says something provocative, repulsive, misogynistic or racist.”
Tuesday is currently the only debate Harris and Trump have agreed to, although both candidates gave a signal that they would be interested in taking part in the next debate.
While Moore emphasized the economy in his speech, Street focused on Harris’ views on gun laws, and Dean emphasized the importance of reproductive rights in the race.
“Vice President Harris said it best that Donald Trump is a man who is not serious, but the consequences of his presidency are so serious,” Street said. He also praised Harris for choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate, pointing to the gun control bills he signed.
Dean was particularly critical of Trump for saying he would oppose the Florida vote which expands access to abortion.
“I’ll tell you, I stand here as a mother, as a mother-in-law of three daughters-in-law, and as a grandmother of three granddaughters and a grandson. So I take this very, very personally,” Dean said. “Donald Trump wants to use this to make it a reality across the country.”
Trump said during the campaign that is proud that his Supreme Court nominations helped overturn Roe v. Wadealthough his running mate was US Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) said Trump would veto nationwide abortion ban.
Cook Political Reportnational ratings service, has placed seven states, including Pennsylvania, in the “toss-up” category for the presidential election. With 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania has the largest prize of all swing states to the winner of the election.
