Kamala Harris closing speech/ Trump Harris contrast/ 2024 election/ unity and change/ battleground states/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kamala Harris will deliver a major speech at the Ellipse near the White House, contrasting her vision with Trump’s for the final days of the campaign. Harris is expected to emphasize her goals for economic reform and reproductive rights while portraying herself as a forward-looking leader who can unite the nation, urging voters to “turn the page” on Trump’s divisive legacy.
Harris’ Closing Argument: Key Points on ‘Turning the Page’ on Trump
- Speech Location: Harris speaks from the Ellipse, site of Trump’s Jan. 6 rally, symbolizing a shift from division.
- Core Message: Harris contrasts Trump’s divisive focus with her vision for American unity and practical reforms.
- Voter Outreach: This marks her final push to win over undecided voters in battleground states.
- Policy Focus: Harris to highlight her economic agenda and commitment to reproductive rights.
Harris to Contrast Herself with Trump in Major ‘Turn the Page’ Speech
Deep Look
As the election draws to a close, Vice President Kamala Harris is preparing to deliver a pivotal speech Tuesday night, using the symbolic setting of the Ellipse near the White House to draw a stark contrast between her vision and that of former President Donald Trump. This speech, set for one week before Election Day, aims to remind Americans of the consequences at stake while offering a forward-looking vision to voters on the fence.
In her speech, Harris is expected to depict Trump as a divisive figure fixated on personal grievances rather than the public good, contrasting his focus on “enemies lists” with her own goals of improving Americans’ lives. “There’s a big difference between he and I,” Harris told reporters on Monday, emphasizing that her focus would be on a proactive agenda to benefit the American people.
Setting the Tone from a Symbolic Site
The Ellipse, where Trump spoke before his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, has been carefully chosen as the backdrop for Harris’s final campaign argument. Harris’ aides have noted that her speech is not intended to revisit the events of that day directly. Rather, she hopes to engage undecided voters by evoking the urgency of moving forward from the chaos and division of the Trump era.
Harris’s message, designed to appeal to those weary of partisan conflicts, aligns with what her aides believe to be one of the strongest voter appeals: a commitment to leadership that is steady, inclusive, and oriented toward the future. Her team hopes this theme will resonate with voters in key battleground states who are considering whether to vote or which candidate to support.
A Message of Unity and Pragmatism
In addition to urging voters to reject Trump, Harris will lay out a pragmatic, hopeful vision for the future. Her speech is expected to highlight her proposed economic policies, her commitment to reproductive rights, and her vision of unity, aiming to convey a practical and forward-looking approach to governance.
The setting and timing of the speech come on the heels of Harris’s high-profile rally in Texas with pop icon Beyoncé, where she emphasized women’s rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Similarly, Tuesday’s address aims to capture voter attention in battleground states, inviting them to imagine her agenda’s potential impact on issues like healthcare, women’s rights, and economic reforms.
Harris’s speech also follows Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally in New York, where some speakers made incendiary and racially charged remarks. Harris described Trump’s event as a stark reminder of what’s at stake, noting that “He is focused and actually fixated on his grievances, on himself and on dividing our country.” Harris’s campaign aims to capitalize on this contrast by emphasizing her intention to “turn the page” and bring unity to a nation divided by Trump’s approach.
An Appeal for “A New Generation of Leadership”
Harris will also emphasize the generational aspect of the 2024 election, portraying herself as a fresh leader committed to bringing the country together. “People are literally ready to turn the page. They’re tired of it,” Harris said on Monday. This approach, she hopes, will resonate with voters tired of the previous administration’s controversies and ongoing legal issues.
The vice president’s team believes that centering the campaign on the contrasting styles and priorities of Harris and Trump could be a decisive factor in convincing swing-state voters. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, stated that the vice president’s message on order, economic stability, and reproductive rights makes her “the better choice for a more hopeful America.”
As Trump is expected to issue a response from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida earlier in the day, Harris will aim to set a constructive tone for the election’s closing days. Her campaign’s emphasis on unity and pragmatism reflects her belief that Americans are ready for a new chapter. As Election Day looms, Harris’s speech may prove to be a pivotal moment for undecided voters considering which future they want to see for the country.
