PITTSBURGH — Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are campaigning in western Pennsylvania on Sunday for a bus tour of communities around Pittsburgh, their first appearance in the western part of the state as campaign partners and coming a day before the Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago.
Harris has officially been The Democratic presidential candidate earlier this month in a roll call vote of Democratic National Committee delegates after President Joe Biden on July 21 dropped his re-election bid and endorsed her.
Sunday marks Harris’ eighth visit to Pennsylvania this year and her 18th since being sworn into office. She introduced Walz as her running mate on Aug. 6 in Philadelphia. She also appeared in Philadelphia to attract Asian-American voters July 13 and it also stopped this cycle in Pittsburgh to praise the administration’s investments in infrastructure; Philadelphia to Talk to Teachers About Student Debt; and in Montgomery County to speak out for reproductive rights.
While Biden has visited the eastern half of the state several times in 2024, he has only visited western Pennsylvania once on the campaign trail, visiting the United Steelworkers union in April ahead of that state’s primary.
Former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential candidate, campaigned in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday and is holding a news conference in York on Monday. His vice presidential candidate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), will also be in Pennsylvania on Monday for a separate news conference in Philadelphia.
Trump rallies in Wilkes-Barre, criticizes Harris, Biden over economy
Trump did not mention abortion at the Wilkes-Barre rally, a key issue Harris has championed for the Biden administration and during the campaign. But in addition to declaring, “I’m a prettier person than Kamala” at the rally Saturday, Trump criticized Harris’ economic policies.
“Inflation is devastating under this group of people who have no idea what the hell they’re doing,” Trump said. “Are you better off with Kamala and Biden than you were with President Donald J. Trump? I don’t think so.”
Annual The inflation rate in July was 2.9%lowest rate from 2021, but both campaigns put the economy front and center as it remains most vital to voters. Harris unveils economic planThe proposal was passed on Friday, which included plans to ease rent rises, boost first-time homebuyers, end grocery price gouging and strengthen child tax credits.
Ahead of Harris’ visit, the Pennsylvania Republican Senate Campaign Committee (SRCC) criticized her energy positions and policies, which it says the GOP majority in the state Senate is trying to block.
“These policies have increased electricity rates for families and small businesses, and Pennsylvanians have lost money [sic] good-paying jobs,” SRCC Communications Director Michael Straw said in a statement. “Pennsylvania cannot afford the failed energy policies of the Biden-Harris administration, whether they come from Vice President Harris or her Democratic allies in the Pennsylvania Senate.”
AND Quinnipiac University poll released Aug. 14 shows Harris slightly ahead of Trump among likely voters in Pennsylvania, including three independent candidates. Harris has done particularly well in polls among women, Quinnipiac found.
“With all five candidates in the race, Harris has the edge overall, as well as strong support from women in a must-win Pennsylvania.” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a press release:
After a Sunday tour of western Pennsylvania, Harris and Walz are scheduled to travel to Chicago. He will deliver a speech at the DNC on Wednesday, and she will formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
