Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Trump's announcement that he would not accept any more presidential debate offers and praised local Native American communities during a campaign rally in Chandler, Arizona.
Harris returned to the Grand Canyon State on Thursday, about two months after she and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Timothy Walz, held their first joint rally on the other side of the Phoenix metro area, in Glendale.
Harris told the rowdy crowd that Trump had announced Wednesday that he would not debate her again, after their first meeting in front of ABC News' David Muir and Linsey Davis in September.
“Now I think it does a disservice to voters. I also think it's a pretty weak measure,” Harris said.
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“But even if he won't debate, the contrast in this election is already clear. This election is about two very different visions, two very different visions for our nation. One focuses on the past, the other focuses on the future. including focus on the issues that matter most to working families across America, like reducing the cost of living and investing in small businesses and entrepreneurs.”
In an all-caps message on Truth Social, Trump said he won the previous two debates, against Harris and Biden, and added that he accepted an offer from Fox News Channel to debate Harris in September, but that this time it was the vice president who opted out. He refused to do so. appear.
“JD Vance easily won his debate with Tampon Tim Walz, who called himself an idiot. [in the debate]. I'm also leading in the polls…”
“There will be no revenge,” Trump continued. “Furthermore, Kamala clearly stated [Tuesday] that she wouldn't do anything different than Joe Biden, so there's nothing to debate.”
Harris also offered a public response to the wrath of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on the Gulf side near Tampa Bay and wreaked havoc across the state to the Atlantic coast, where several deaths were reported near Port St. Lucie. .
“I know our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by these storms. Our administration has mobilized thousands of federal personnel across the region to work hand-in-hand with local and state officials to get people the help they need. ” she said.
“I have spoken with local state officials, both Republican and Democrat, to let them know that we will be with you every step of the way as you recover and rebuild.”
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Halperin added that internal polling reveals Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign is in “a lot of trouble.” (ABC/The View)
However, Harris was rebuffed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who reportedly refused to take her phone calls amid the crisis. DeSantis told CNBC that he and President Biden had been in regular contact, but that the vice president “has no role” in disaster recovery and that until this particular cyclone she had not reached out.
“She's trying to get involved in this because of her political campaign,” DeSantis said.
At the rally, Harris also said she was the first vice president to visit the nearby Gila River Indian Community and offered her support for former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez in his congressional race against incumbent Republican Rep. Elijah Crane.
“I firmly believe that the relationship between tribal nations and the United States is sacred. And that we must and must honor tribal sovereignty, embrace our trust and treaty obligations, and ensure tribal self-determination. And it is my promise as president of the United States: I will always defend those principles.”
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US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally. ((Photo by Rebecca NOBLE / AFP))
Harris also co-identified Trump's campaign plan with the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a connection the former president has long questioned.
“I keep saying I can't believe they put that in writing. You know, they published it, they found it and they handed it out. They're crazy. And it's a detailed and dangerous plan for what he'll do if he's elected president again,” Harris said.
Responding earlier this year to Harris' claims about Project 2025, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said the characterizations were “verified” by third parties, including some “so brazen that even the corporate media like CNN are exposing their lies.
“She has no political record to run on except her chaotic tenure as border czar,” Roberts told Fox News Digital at the time.
In Arizona, Harris continued to focus on Trump, calling him an “unserious man” and saying his return to the White House would have “brutally serious” consequences.
