Trump Accepts Presidential Nomination Speech, Heads to Milwaukee
Prosecutors vs. Criminals Highlighted... "Know Trump Type Well"
"Trump Will Halt Abortion Ban"
US Democratic Leadership Continues Support for Harris
Reuters Poll... Harris 44%, Trump 42%
Kamala Harris, the Vice President who is widely expected to be the Democratic presidential nominee, chose Milwaukee?the site of the Republican National Convention?as her first campaign stop and intensified her attacks on former President Donald Trump. With the 'Trump vs. Harris' matchup all but confirmed for the November election, Harris highlighted Trump as a criminal and clashed with him on issues such as abortion rights, labor unions, and economic policies. As an extremely close race is anticipated between the two, a recent poll showing Harris leading Trump in approval ratings suggests a fierce competition between the Democratic and Republican parties over the next three months for the White House ticket.
On the 23rd (local time), Vice President Harris spoke in Milwaukee, the largest city in the battleground state of Wisconsin, saying, "I heard this morning that I have secured enough delegate support to win the Democratic nomination," and pledged, "Over the coming weeks, I vow to unite our party and prepare to win the November election."
She described this election as "a choice between autonomy and chaos," stating, "We believe in a future where everyone has the opportunity to get ahead, not just get by." Defining her and former President Trump's national visions as 'future versus past,' she emphasized, "We will fight for the future."
Harris continued her attacks on former President Trump, her opponent in the election just over three months away, for the second consecutive day. Referring to her career as a prosecutor, she framed the contest as 'prosecutor versus criminal,' intensifying her criticism. Earlier, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts related to hush money payments for a sexual misconduct scandal in a New York court at the end of May.
Harris said, "In that role (as a prosecutor), I dealt with all kinds of criminals," including "predators who abuse women, con artists who deceive consumers, and cheats who break the rules for profit." She added, "I know the type like Donald Trump," emphasizing once again.
She also outlined policy pledges similar to those of President Joe Biden, including protecting abortion rights, supporting labor unions, and focusing on a middle-class-centered economy.
She stated, "We will stop Trump's extreme abortion ban," explaining, "Women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, and the government should not dictate what they must do." She further emphasized, "If Congress passes legislation to restore reproductive freedom (including abortion rights), I will sign that law as President of the United States."
Milwaukee, which Harris effectively chose as her first campaign location, was the site of the Republican National Convention held from August 15 to 18, where former President Trump launched his presidential campaign. Analysts say that by holding her first campaign event where Trump gave his acceptance speech, Harris is symbolically underscoring her determination to face him head-on. It also reflects the importance of Wisconsin as a key battleground state in the election.
On the same day, Harris secured the support of key Democratic leaders in both the Senate and House, leaving only the formal nomination for the presidential candidacy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a joint press conference to announce their support for Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. Following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's endorsement the previous day, senior Democrats and party leadership have all joined the ranks supporting Harris. Earlier, senior Democratic lawmakers and potential presidential contenders had already aligned themselves with Harris. She has already secured delegate support to become the Democratic nominee. According to an AP poll conducted the previous day, 2,668 Democratic delegates support Harris, far exceeding the 'magic number' of 1,976 delegates needed for the nomination.
The New York Times (NYT) commented, "Just two days after Biden announced he would not run, Harris has gained near-unanimous support within the Democratic Party as the challenger to Trump in November." Bloomberg News reported, "After weeks of internal strife over how to respond to Biden's disastrous debate performance, the Democratic Party has united and is now set to take on Republican presidential candidate Trump."
With the U.S. presidential race effectively set between Vice President Harris and former President Trump, a poll indicating a Democratic victory has also drawn attention. A Reuters and Ipsos poll conducted from the 22nd to 23rd among 1,018 voters showed Harris leading Trump 44% to 42% in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup (margin of error ±3 percentage points). In earlier polls conducted on the 1st and 2nd, Trump led by 1 percentage point, and in the poll from the 15th to 16th, Harris and Trump were tied at 44%. However, after President Biden's withdrawal announcement on the 21st, Harris succeeded in overtaking Trump in support. In a multi-candidate scenario including independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr., Harris led Trump by 4 percentage points, 42% to 38%.
Additionally, 56% of respondents in this poll described Harris as "mentally sharp and capable of handling challenges," compared to 49% who said the same about Trump. With the Democratic nominee shifting from 81-year-old President Biden to 59-year-old Vice President Harris, it is interpreted that concerns about age may now be directed toward 78-year-old former President Trump.
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