Kamala Harris addressed a boisterous crowd in North Philadelphia on Sunday and promised her supporters that she would win a seemingly deadlocked presidential race with just nine days left until Election Day.
“There are nine days left until one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and we know it is going to be a close race until the end,” the vice president told hundreds of followers. “And make no mistake: we will win.”
Echoing a message she has repeated at every campaign stop in recent weeks, Harris framed the election as a choice between “two extremely different visions of our nation.” Harris accused Donald Trump of waging a selfish campaign of revenge while she and her supporters work for a better future for all Americans.
“We have an opportunity before us to turn the page on the fear and division that has characterized our politics for a decade because of Donald Trump,” Harris said. “We have the ability to turn the page of that tired old guide because we are exhausted and ready to chart a new path forward.”
Harris took the stage after visiting a predominantly black church and a barbershop in West Philadelphia, underscoring how important the city will be in her electoral strategy. Harris' ability to attract Democrats in Philadelphia will be key to winning Pennsylvania, which could serve as a swing-point state in the electoral college.
“There is too much at stake and we should not wake up the day after the election and regret what we could have done in the next nine days,” Harris said. “The election is here and the election, Philadelphia, is truly in your hands. “The path to victory goes through all the leaders who are here.”
Philadelphia Maduro Cherelle Parker was among several prominent Democrats who introduced the vice president at the rally. Parker, the first Black woman to serve as the city's longevo, asked attendees to remember how it felt to see Trump win in 2016 and urged them to do everything they can to prevent that from happening again. He reminded them that Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by just 1.2 points in 2020, four years after Trump won the state by 0.7 points.
“Guess what the difference was between that 2016 vote and that 2020 vote?” Parker said. “More people came out to vote in the city of Philadelphia and in our neighboring counties.”
Still, the rally offered at least one warning sign for Harris. Palestinian professional protesters disrupted the beginning of Harris' remarks, prompting boos from other attendees before the protesters were escorted out.
Harris was not shy about addressing protesters and instead focused all of her attention on the war in Lazo, telling the crowd: “We can and must take this opportunity to end this war and bring the hostages home, and I will do everything I can to end this war and bring the hostages home. my power to achieve that end.”
The stakes of the election came up repeatedly in conversations with rally attendees, and many said they felt the weight of their responsibility as voters in a battleground state. Brenda Exon, a 60-year-old Wallingford voter known as the “Philadelphia Pride Lady,” attended the rally wearing her “Freedom Timeline” apron, which tells the story of Philadelphia from the founding of Pennsylvania to the signing of the Declaration. of Independence and the civil rights movement.
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“Our Philadelphia story is our nation's story, and that's what we're really fighting for. We don't want Donald Trump to do this to us,” Exon said. “We are approaching the number 250 [anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence]And who should be the president who would celebrate that in 2026? “Kamala Harris.”
Even though polls showed a close race, Harris's supporters in Philadelphia seemed confident that she would emerge victorious. Jacob Roberts, a 26-year-old voter from West Chester who already voted for Harris, said enthusiasm for Trump seemed lower in Pennsylvania this year.
“I'm seeing a lot of Kamala yard signs,” Roberts said. “I actually just drove to película del Oeste Pennsylvania. I didn't see a lot of Trump signs on barns or anything, so I think we look good.”
When asked if he was disappointed about missing part of the Philadelphia Eagles football game to attend Harris' rally, Roberts said it was worth it, adding, “We're talking about our country.”