A Tale Of Two Rallies

 

Both Vice President Harris and the Malignant Loser were in battleground Nevada yesterday at rallies miles apart both in distance and in mood:

The events offered a tight focus on the contrast at the heart of next week’s election. Harris’s rally was a joyful affair, with mothers carrying infants on their shoulders, some supporters and volunteers sporting Halloween costumes and star turns by Mexican band Maná and Latina singer and actor Jennifer Lopez.

Trump’s gaudy pageant warmed up with the sound of Elvis warbling about Dixieland and James Brown’s It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World. His crowd sported Make America great again caps and other regalia, cheered his demonisation of immigrants, jeered the “fake news” media and broke into chants of “Fight! Fight! Fight!” [snip]

Harris’s rally was staged in a park in the open air against the backdrop of a “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign and attracted a diverse mix across age and race, including young families. There were chants of “We’re not going back!” Among the speakers was congresswoman Susie Lee, who observed: “I’ve seen some scary costumes today but none of them come close to how scary a Donald Trump presidency would be.” [snip]

Earlier, the mood at Trump’s rally at an ice hockey stadium in Henderson, just outside Las Vegas, was less charitable. Warm-up speakers included far-right Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and Nevada Republican chair Michael Mcdonald, who mocked Harris’s laugh and derided Democrats as “beta males”, claiming “We’re alpha males”[snip]

Trump hurled insults at Harris, saying she lacked “intellect” or “stamina”, and was a “train wreck” and incapable of running a kindergarten. “I’ve worked for 62 days in a row – I haven’t take a day off,” he said, before claiming of Harris: “She’s exhausted. She’s finished.”

He heaped praise on his billionaire backer Elon Musk, stating: “In terms of computer, I would say he’s probably about as good as you get.” And in a bizarre riff against Democrats, Trump said: “They don’t want windows. They don’t want cows. They don’t want anything. They don’t know what they want, actually.”..

Which candidate exudes joy and competence, and which one exudes hatred and division?  Which campaign looks inclusive, and which one plays the Confederate anthem "Dixie"?  Which campaign looks and sounds like its confident of victory, and which one is ginning up threats against the opponents?   The clock is ticking.  You are who you vote for.

(Photo:  John Locher, AP)

Vice President Harris' "Closing Argument" Tonight

 

The  Vice President's "closing argument" shouldn't come as a surprise -- it's likely going to repeat what she has been articulating for months now.  The expected crowd (most recent estimates now put it at 50,000 +) could be the eye- popper of the event:

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to make her final case for her bid for the presidency on Washington, D.C.'s Ellipse on Tuesday where she is expected to give an optimistic and hopeful message that's focused on moving forward, according to a senior Harris campaign official.

Standing with the White House in the background, Harris will offer a split screen and urge voters to "turn the page" on former President Trump's era by pledging to put country over party, the senior campaign official said. About 40,000 people are expected to attend the event, according to an approved permit from the National Park Service -- an increase from the 20,000 people who were expected to attend, according to the permit issued to the campaign last week.

Harris has adamantly said that the speech's location near the National Mall -- the same spot where Trump delivered remarks prior to the Jan.6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol -- was to remind Americans of their choice between Harris and Trump and who would go on to the White House.

"I would and do think about that place more in the context of what will be behind me, which is the White House. And I'm doing it there, because I think it is very important for the American people to see and think about who will be occupying that space on Jan. 20," Harris recently said to CBS News' Norah O'Donnell.

"The reality of it is that most Americans can visualize the Oval Office. We've seen it on television, and this is a real scenario. It's either going to be Donald Trump or it's going to be me sitting behind the resolute desk in the Oval Office."  [snip]

Harris' campaign said she plans to paint Trump as someone who is consumed by his grievances and an endless desire for retribution, highlighting his pledge to go after those on his "enemies list" and how it contrasts with Harris' focus on her "to-do list." It's a message she often incorporates into her stump speech.

"He is full of grievances. He is full of dark language that is about retribution and revenge, and so the American people have a choice. It is either going to be that, or it'll be me there, focused on my to-do list, focused on the American people, and getting through that list of goals and plans to improve the lives of the American people," Harris said to reporters on Sunday while campaigning in Philadelphia.

Her closing argument will highlight what she claims is a desire for Americans to "turn the page" from Trump by stressing her plans and priorities for the country, namely the economy. The vice president has promised to bring down costs and prioritize the middle class in her "opportunity economy."...

We assume some cable networks will cover all or most of the speech, and it almost certainly will be streamed on the Kamala Harris YouTube channel.  We wish the campaign could've used some of their $1 billion ($118 million cash on hand) to pay to simulcast the speech on ABC, NBC, and CBS (and, yes, we know it's going to be opposite game 3 of the World Series on another network, but we think the public interest over- shadows any concerns).  Anyway, check your local listings for up- to- date information.

(Photo:  Bloomberg Images)

Over 100 Republican Ex- Senior National Security Officials Back Harris

 

From a letter signed by more than 100 Republican ex- senior national security and foreign policy officials/ Members of Congress supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, released yesterday:

We are former national security and foreign policy officials who served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and/or Donald Trump, or as Republican Members of Congress. We have served in the White House, the Departments of Defense, Treasury, State, Justice, Homeland Security, Commerce, and other agencies and in Congress.

We believe that the President of the United States must be a principled, serious, and steady leader who can advance and defend American security and values, strengthen our alliances, and protect our democracy. We expect to disagree with Kamala Harris on many domestic and foreign policy issues, but we believe that she possesses the essential qualities to serve as President and Donald Trump does not. We therefore support her election to be President.

We firmly oppose the election of Donald Trump. As President, he promoted daily chaos in government, praised our enemies and undermined our allies, politicized the military and disparaged our veterans, prioritized his personal interest above American interests, and betrayed our values, democracy, and this country’s founding documents. In our view, by inciting the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and defending those who committed it, he has violated his oath of office and brought  danger to our country. As former Vice President Pence has said "anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States."

Donald Trump’s susceptibility to flattery and manipulation by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, unusual affinity for other authoritarian leaders, contempt for the norms of decent, ethical and lawful behavior, and chaotic national security decision-making are dangerous qualities – as many honorable Republican colleagues and military officers who served in senior national security positions in his administration have frequently testified. He is unfit to serve again as President, or indeed in any office of public trust.

Vice President Harris has demonstrated a commitment to upholding the ideals that define our nation — freedom, democracy, and rule of law. Her experience as Attorney General of California and her leadership on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and as Vice President have helped prepare her to be President...

This comes several weeks after more than 200 Republican former staffers endorsed Vice President Harris.  Retired Malignant Loser senior military officials like James Mattis, John Kelly, and Mark Milley have also made clear their views that the Malignant Loser is unfit for office, though they've shied away from endorsing the Vice President (shame on them!).

Letters of support aren't votes but, as we've often pointed out in cases like this, they provide a "permission structure" for Republican and independent voters to cast their ballot for a Democrat who "possesses the essential qualities to serve as President," that the Malignant Loser manifestly does not.  In doing so, as former Georgia Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said at the DNC, voting for Harris-Walz "doesn't make you a Democrat, it makes you a patriot."

VP Harris' Speech Accepting The Democratic Presidential Nomination

 

ICYMI.

 

What a convention.  What a candidate.  What a ticket.

Now let's all go out and win this.

Harris Unveils Populist Domestic Agenda

Later today in North Carolina, Vice President Harris will roll out her populist domestic policy agenda, one that should have broad appeal to working and middle class families. Included will be a $6,000 child tax credit for the first year after birth, and plans to lower costs for families. The Washington Post reports:

"The most striking proposals were for the elimination of medical debt for millions of Americans; the “first-ever” ban on price gouging for groceries and food; a cap on prescription drug costs; a $25,000 subsidy for first-time homebuyers; and a Child Tax Credit that would provide $6,000 per child to families for the first year of a baby’s life. [snip]

The flurry of policy positions — just days before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago — represented the clearest articulation yet of how Harris, who has only had a relatively brief time on the national stage, would handle economic policy if elected this fall. Harris has thus far surrounded herself with many former aides to President Biden, and her team had made some overtures to business leaders that they hoped reflected a more centrist approach. But the policy positions she embraced Friday suggest she will continue, if not deepen, the party’s transformation under Biden, who pushed for more aggressive government intervention in the economy on industrial, labor and antitrust policies." (our emphasis)

The most immediately-felt proposal is the ban on price gouging by large food chains on food prices, something that has driven coverage of inflation costs:

"While details were sparse, her campaign said the measure would include authorizing the Federal Trade Commission to impose large fines on grocery stores that impose 'excessive' price hikes on customers. Grocery prices remain a top concern for voters: Even though the rate of increase leveled off this year, grocery prices have jumped 26 percent since 2019, according to Elizabeth Pancotti, director of special initiatives at the Roosevelt Institute." (our emphasis)

Whether that last proposal is workable, it's clearly in line with consumers' anger at food prices that remain stubbornly high. It's smart politics and a contrast with yesterday's poo-fling by the Malignant Loser at his Bedminster club that went off the rails into petty personal attacks.

Hands-Free Driving With Tim And Hope

 

ICYMI, here's a public service video from about 5 years ago with Minnesota Governor and future Vice President Tim Walz and his daughter Hope talking about the hands- free driving law in that state.  The natural and loving rapport these two have tells you more about the kind of person Tim Walz is than any professional campaign video.

Harris-Walz Draws Huge Crowd, Leads In Nevada

 

Another day, another huge crowd in a battleground state, this time in Las Vegas, Nevada:

There were 12,000-plus people inside the [University of Nevada] campus basketball arena on Saturday and, before the event started, local law enforcement halted entry to the event because people were becoming ill while waiting outside in 109-degree heat to go through security. About 4,000 people were in line when the entrances were closed.

[Gov. Tim] Walz referenced that during his speech, but turned it into an applause line by telling Nevada, “don’t worry, we’re going to be back a lot.” [snip]

The 60,000-strong Culinary Workers Union announced its endorsement of Harris. About 54% of the union’s members are Latino, 55% women and 60% immigrants. The union also issued a statement supporting Harris’ call for a higher minimum wage and to “ensure that there are no taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.”...

With the Harris-Walz ticket, Nevada is trending back blue again:

A new poll of likely Nevada voters found Vice President Kamala Harris with a nearly 6 percentage point lead over former President Donald Trump — the largest lead for a Democrat in any presidential poll of Nevadans this cycle.

While Nevada polls have been relatively scarce since Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, the vice president appears to have closed the gap that existed between Trump and Biden, who had not led Trump in a single public poll taken in the state since October 2023... (our emphasis)

When we fight, we win (but never forget to vote!). 

(Photo:  AP photo)

Huge Crowds, Hope, And Joy

 

Ali Velshi looks at the huge Harris-Walz campaign crowds and the campaign's brilliant, joyful messaging that's providing a stark split-screen contrast with the dystopian, fascistic campaign of the racist convicted felon Malignant Loser and his Junior Demagogue.  The polls seem to show it's a winning strategy.  This is a good clip to share.

At the Arizona rally last night (15,000- 20,000), Governor "Coach" Walz revved the crowd up in his great style. Note: whoever selected John Mellencamp's "Small Town" as his entry song is a genius.  (Meanwhile, the Malignant Loser's campaign is playing the theme from "Titanic" at his Montana rally. Bwahahaha.)

 

Then, a Republican who puts country over party:

Mesa, AZ Republican Mayor John Giles: I do not recognize my party. I have something to say to those of us who are in the middle: You don’t owe a damn thing to that party. You don’t owe anything to a party that is out of touch and hell-bent on taking us backward. And by all means,… pic.twitter.com/8vpQmdxsPx

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 9, 2024

 

And a right- leaning independent:

 

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, an Independent, endorsed Kamala Harris for president:

“I’ve only got a few elections to go; I’m 73 years old now, so the window’s closing. I want to be alive to see the first woman President of the United States of America.” pic.twitter.com/r8jfdwoiyf

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 10, 2024

 

Something unmistakable is happening here.

There's Something Happening Here (UPDATED)

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz traveled to Eau Claire, WI, this afternoon (they'll be in metro Detroit, Michigan, tonight). Like  Philadelphia yesterday, the crowds showed up in droves:

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held their first joint rally in the Midwest on Wednesday, telling more than 12,000 people who gathered in the battleground state of Wisconsin that America cannot withstand another Donald Trump presidency.

Walz was in friendly territory in his neighboring state, receiving a thunderous ovation and praise from top Wisconsin Democrats who spoke before him. Harris told the crowd that Wisconsin will play a pivotal role in this year’s presidential election.

“The path to the White House runs right through this state, and with your help, we will win in November,” Harris said. “We are going to win.”

Their outdoor rally held in the farm country of Eau Claire was the second since Harris announced Walz as her running mate. A Harris-Walz rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night drew 10,000 inside the venue and 4,000 outside. Harris and Walz are in the midst of a jam-packed schedule of stops in competitive battleground states.

Here's more of what the crowd looked like:

 

This is Eau Claire, Wisconsin now. Population of 70,000 & represented by a Republican in Congress. Just breathtaking. pic.twitter.com/vlELu6Ayd2

— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) August 7, 2024

 

The Harris- Walz campaign is also going on the Malignant Loser's failing "Truth Social" platform to troll him and his cult with crowd size comparisons, so we feel obligated to pile on:

(Ed. : bwahahahaha)

With the understanding that crowds aren't banked votes, it's still undeniable that the Harris- Walz ticket is generating a whole new level of engagement among voters, and not just Democrats.  A new NPRS/PBS News/Marist poll showed dramatic gains among independents:

Kamala Harris has gained 23 points in a new poll, surging her to 9 points ahead of Donald Trump.

The poll questioning independents, carried out by NPRS/PBS News/Marist, found that 53 percent of voters who identified in this group supported Harris and 44 percent backed Trump. [snip]

The August survey, published on Tuesday, was carried out among 1,613 adults between August 1 and August 4 and has a disclaimed margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. The July survey questioning 1,309 adults was carried out on July 22 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points...

Momentum is one of the most valuable commodities in politics, and the Harris- Walz campaign has it out the kazoo.  But, as we've cautioned over and over, we need to not take any of this as signs that we can take our foot off the pedal.  Vice President Harris continues to present herself as an underdog, and that's the mindset we should have as we view the campaign, because overconfidence is one of the most deadly commodities in politics.

UPDATE:  The Michigan rally was eye-popping as well.

(Photo:  the Harris- Walz rally in Eau Claire / Glen Stubbe, Star-Tribune)

Introducing Tim Walz

 

From the Harris-Walz campaign:

 

Up next, the Philadelphia rally, which will be rocking.

BREAKING: Harris-Walz!

 

The choice apparently has been made.  Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be Kamala Harris' running mate:

Vice President Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, opting for a former high school teacher and Midwestern Democrat to complete a newly assembled presidential ticket following, according to three people familiar with the pick, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that is not yet public.

The choice of Walz, 60, creates a ticket that many Democrats have said would be politically beneficial. Harris, 59, who is Black and Indian American and spent much of her career in deep-blue California, chose from a list of finalists populated by White men, including Walz, who have represented more competitive swaths of the country.

The selection culminates an increasingly intensive process in recent days, as the Harris team narrowed down the prospects and various factions of the Democratic Party lobbied for their favorites. On the weekend, Harris interviewed three finalists: Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. [snip]

Harris’s choice of a running mate was among the most closely watched decisions of her fledgling campaign, as she sought to bolster the ticket’s prospects for victory in November and rapidly find someone who could be a governing partner. In picking Walz, she has selected a seasoned politician with executive governing experience, and signaled the importance of Midwestern battleground states such as Wisconsin and Michigan.

Walz’s foray into politics came later in life: He spent more than two decades as a public school teacher and football coach, and as a member of the Army National Guard, before running for Congress in his 40s. In 2006, he defeated a Republican to win Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District — a rural, conservative area — and won reelection five times before leaving Congress to run for governor.

Walz was first elected governor in 2018 and handily won reelection in 2022. He emerged publicly as one of the earliest names mentioned as a possible running mate for Harris, and in the ensuing days he made the rounds on television as an outspoken surrogate for the vice president...

More as the story develops.

Bravo!!

BONUS:

I am proud to announce that I've asked @Tim_Walz to be my running mate.

As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he's delivered for working families like his.

It's great to have him on the team.

Now let’s get to work. Join us:https://t.co/W4AE2WlMTj

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 6, 2024

 

BONUS II:    Wonkette has some nice quotes and vids.  What a likeable, normal, smart guy.