Harris brings new energy, doubles down on abortion rights
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[July 24, 2024]
By Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland
MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday held her
first campaign rally since becoming the likely Democratic presidential
candidate to face Donald Trump in this year's election.
Harris' event, two days after President Joe Biden bowed out of the 2024
presidential race and endorsed her, showed how the Democrats' campaign
is changing rapidly.
ABORTION RIGHTS
Harris got the biggest reaction from the crowd with remarks about
abortion and women's rights, an early indication of how important it
will be to her campaign and the election overall.
Many U.S. states have passed restrictive abortion laws in the two years
since the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling that had
made abortion a constitutional right.
Democrats already saw abortion rights as a winning issue in this
campaign and Harris had led the charge from her position as Biden's
running mate. Now that she is likely to be the Democratic presidential
candidate, it becomes even more central to the campaign.
"We will stop Donald Trump's extreme abortion ban because we trust women
to make decisions about their own bodies and not have the government
tell them what to do," Harris said to a roar from the crowd. "When
Congress passes the law to restore reproductive freedoms as President of
the United States, I will sign it."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/24/images/ads/current/healthdept_sda_HEALTH_2024.png)
'LOCK HIM UP'
Harris framed the Democratic argument against Trump around his character
and his legal convictions, indicating that this will be a major campaign
message.
She noted her past as a prosecutor and attorney general in her home
state of California and encountering convicted felons, people who
assaulted women and those who committed fraud.
"Hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump's type," Harris said as the
crowd chanted "Lock him up."
AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, UNIONS
Harris indicated that she would embrace, and maybe expand on, Biden's
economic priorities and she ran through a progressive's wishlist of
policies, including affordable healthcare and childcare, paid family
leave, union membership protections and retirement benefits.
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![](../images/072424PIX/news_s36.jpg)
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign event at West
Allis Central High School, in West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S., July 23,
2024. REUTERS/Vincent Alban
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/24/images/ads/current/guzzardos_lda_GENERIC_040524.png)
"We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not
just to get by but to get ahead," she said.
To deliver on many of those, Harris would need the support of
Congress, meaning Democratic control of one or both houses.
BEYONCE REPLACES TOM PETTY
With the Harris campaign comes a new energy level, crowd size and a
new soundtrack. Gone was Tom Petty's "Won't Back Down," which Biden
adopted in his last weeks as Democrats pressured him to get out of
the race. Instead, Harris walked on to Beyonce's "Freedom."
Unlike the tiny, intimate Biden events that were carefully curated,
Harris drew a crowd of thousands who danced, cheered and waived
"Kamala" signs.
A campaign source said Harris's team had been inundated with RSVPs
so they switched to a larger venue late in the day on Monday.
THANKS TO BIDEN AND UNITY
Harris began by expressing thanks to Biden to hearty applause, and
vowed to unite the party, which has been divided most recently over
Biden's refusal for weeks to step aside as concerns mounted over his
health and ability to beat Trump.
"It has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve as
vice president to our president, Joe Biden," she said, lauding
Biden's "legacy of accomplishment over his entire career.
(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland; Editing by Heather
Timmons and Alistair Bell)
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