Vice President Kamala Harris will make her closing argument to voters Tuesday night washington The rally is expected to draw as many as 20,000 supporters to the National Mall.
Harris will speak on the Ellipse lawn, surrounded by the White House, where she hopes to live next. It was also the Ellipse where her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, spoke at the infamous “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021, where a crowd later stormed the Capitol.
Harris will contrast herself with Trump and encourage voters to turn the page on the era of American politics ushered in by Trump.
With just a week until Election Day, the speech will be one of her final efforts to establish herself as a candidate for change.
Senior Harris campaign officials told NBC News that Harris is working to turn the election into a referendum on the Trump era, which she described as a decade of division and chaos.
The Harris campaign called the speech in Washington the high point of the vice president’s campaign for the presidency, as both candidates race to decide the decisive ballot question for voters in the final days of the election.
Up to 20,000 people The rally is expected to be attended, according to estimates from the National Park Service, which issues permits for the event.
Both Harris and Trump are racing to convince voters that they will disrupt the status quo, as polls often find respondents dissatisfied With the direction of the country.
Harris, in turn, has worked to portray herself as a non-incumbent candidate who represents a new generation of American leadership — though it’s a delicate balance given her current role in the Biden administration.
At the same time, Trump has tapped into widespread dissatisfaction, particularly over issues like the economy and the border, to try to remind voters of her status as the administration’s No. 2 figure.
On Tuesday night, Harris aimed to address voters’ economic concerns head-on and highlight her specific proposals aimed at lowering costs, strengthening the middle class and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy, according to campaign officials.
Trump is also due to speak on Tuesday in what his campaign says will be his final message to voters.
The pair of closing arguments marked a historic few months in U.S. politics, during which President Joe Biden abruptly ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Harris’ top spot in the Democratic race.
In the three months since, Harris has significantly chipped away at Trump’s polling advantage. She also raised more than $1 billion, an eye-popping feat at the end of an election cycle.
Harris also capitalized on some major endorsements from superstars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, as well as Republicans across party lines support her. Most notable are former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney.
Despite gains in polls and cash advantages, the presidential race remains close heading into its final week, with polls concurring that the candidates are evenly matched in key battleground states and nationally.
About The Author
