On a sun-drenched slow October morning in ruby-red Lancaster County, it was Republicans who set the stage for Democratic power to justify Vice President Kamala Harris.
The 350-person, invitation-only group traveled to a farm in Manheim Township to hear from her Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and former Georgia Republican, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.
Warnock emphasized the importance of the upcoming election as a moral moment for America.
“We already know who Donald Trump is,” Warnock said. “That’s not what this election is about. The point is, what kind of nation do we want to be?
He recalled the January 5, 2021 elections in which Georgia sent its first African-American senator and first Jewish senator (Jon Ossoff) to the United States Senate.
“What we saw on January 6 was the ugly side of our complicated American history. The good news is that we also have January 5 when a child who grew up in public housing can serve in the United States Senate.
“We are in a battle for our individual souls. I don’t understand these cowardly politicians who focus so much on the next elections and not on the next generation. I would rather lose the election than lose my soul…We must win this election to save the soul of America.”
Duncan explained why he was in Lancaster County as part of his barnstorming tour of Pennsylvania.
“This is my 9-1-1 call to America,” he said. “This is a Republican. There is nothing in this for us other than the future of our country. Donald Trump is the perfect combination of a mafia boss and a circus clown. This is not a leader. We wouldn’t trust Donald Trump with a lemonade stand.
“We must break this cycle as Republicans and Americans. We need to get back to electing leaders who truly care about our future, not the next election.”
Duncan also gave his reasons for voting for Harris.
“I’ll start with the easiest one,” he began. “Donald Trump is a liar. Donald Trump is a fake Republican. I have a 14-year-old kid who has been a Republican longer than Donald Trump. But the most important reason is that he will be a better president than Donald Trump will ever be. The only solution is to get rid of Donald Trump.”
Shapiro, who was one of Harris’s top deputies, took the stage last and emphasized the importance of unity, leadership and action in politics.
“You have given me the honor of serving as your governor for a lifetime – Democrats and Republicans unite,” he said. “Now this coalition is being called upon again to save the nation. Kamala Harris is someone who wants to lift us all up… to look after all of our interests… and while we share many of her political goals and objectives at the starting point, we simply want a president who will treat people with the level of respect we strive to teach our children every day.
“Donald Trump is constantly trying to separate people,” Shapiro continued. “It’s a destructive approach when you try to lead the greatest nation on earth to continually humiliate that great nation. We should have leaders who want to lift us up, not tear us down.
“I want a president who has hope. I want a president who is also happy. And we can make it happen if you all do your part. My faith teaches me that no one is obligated to do this task, but we cannot refrain from doing it either. And right now in Pennsylvania we are called to do our part. Our future is at stake and we have to do the tough work now. We have to get off the sideline, get into the game and do our job.
Before the morning’s “Big Three” took the stage, the audience warmed up Jim Greenwood AND Anna Wombleco-chair of the Pennsylvania Republicans on Harris’ behalf.
Greenwood, a former U.S. representative from the 8th District, explained why, even as a lifelong Republican, he supports Harris.
“Donald Trump wakes up every morning and asks: What can I do for Donald Trump today? Kamala Harris wakes up every morning and asks: What can I do for America? She’s smarter than him, tougher than him, stronger than him, and a much better dancer.
Womble, a former chairwoman of the Lancaster County Republican Party, said the party she led and belonged to made her a third-time Trump nominee.
“Words are inadequate to explain how many of us in the Republican Party feel betrayed by what the party has become,” she said. “It’s almost unrecognizable. “We are working as hard as we can to work with persuasive Republicans and right-leaning independents to not only decide not to vote for Trump, but (but) make a positive decision to vote for Kamala Harris.”
Stella Sextonvice chairman of the Lancaster County Democrats, said it was a message about the stakes of the former president’s next term Donald Trump is correct.
“I am very optimistic about the increased margins we will see in Lancaster County given the historic investment the Harris campaign has made here,” she said. “Not only do we have two campaign offices in Lancaster and Ephrata, but we now have multiple pop-up sites throughout the county.
Linda Tuttle Weidingerformer Manheim Township resident, and her husband flew from Austria to her hometown to do what they could to support the Harris-Walz ticket.
“I would like to find things that unite us, that bring us together, and it’s up to us as voters to find common ground, just like Republicans did for Harris.”
Both are worried about a possible Trump victory.
“I think this is a threat to our institutions. This is a threat to the constitutional order,” she added. “Barack Obama he said you can’t get involved on election day. You can’t just throw your ballot into the ballot box and say, “OK, I’m done.” When you have a group of people like that and you all stick together, that’s what’s inspiring. When you can meet people full of energy and determination, disciplined and dedicated, these are the three D’s that will make you successful.
