MADISON, Wisconsin – July 24, 2024 – US Vice-President Kamala Harris launched her White House campaign with a strong offensive against Donald Trump, portraying November’s election as a choice between a former prosecutor and a convicted felon.
Speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 in the battleground state of Wisconsin, Harris compared her Republican opponent to fraudsters she had prosecuted as California’s attorney general. “I took on perpetrators of all kinds,” she said. “Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain.”
“So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type,” Harris continued. “In this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week.”
The enthusiastic crowd responded with chants of “Kamala! Kamala!” The energy at the rally was notably higher than at recent Biden events.
When Trump’s name was mentioned, many attendees chanted “lock him up,” echoing the chant from Trump’s rallies against Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Trump responded by criticizing Harris’s record on border issues, posting on social media: “Lyin’ Kamala Harris destroys everything she touches!”
The rally came a day after Harris secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, paving the way for her to become the party’s nominee. On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the race and endorsed his vice-president, following mounting pressure from top Democrats and donors after his poor debate performance against Trump in late June.
The Harris campaign has seen a significant boost, raising over $100 million in the 36 hours following Biden’s exit.
