Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told voters in the swing state of Pennsylvania that Vice President Kamala Harris has been a “disaster” for the nation and the “least talented person we have ever seen in government.” A truism.
Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris are locked in a competitive race in Pennsylvania, which could be the biggest prize in the presidential race. Mr. Trump said at a Monday night rally that the silver lining from the 2020 election — which he maintains was stolen — is that the last three-plus years with President Biden and Ms. Harris in charge “taught us how bad a communist philosophy is. “Americans have suffered one catastrophic failure, betrayal, humiliation after another,” Mr. Trump said. “Kamala Harris has delivered soaring prices and economic anguish at home, war, and chaos abroad, and nation-destroying invasion on our southern border.”
“My message to Americans tonight is simple: we do not have to live this way,” he said. “We do not have to settle for weakness, incompetence, decline and decay.” “With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead Americans and, indeed, the whole world to new heights of glory,” he said. Mr. Trump also criticized early voting and the prospect the election results would not be finalized for days.
“Bad things happen when you do that,” he said, alleging the vote tabulating computers are vulnerable to hackers. “The only way we blow it is if you blow it,” he said to his supporters. Mr. Trump’s event in Pittsburgh was the second-last on the 78-year-old’s schedule. He planned to close out his campaign in Michigan. Meanwhile, Ms. Harris was also campaigning in the state and planned to finish her campaign with a rally in Philadelphia featuring Oprah Winfrey, the Roots, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Mr. Trump mocked Ms. Harris’ reliance on such music and TV stars, saying he doesn’t need to rely on stars because he is running on a better policy agenda.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also addressed the crowd, along with David McCormick, who is running to unseat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly also appeared at the rally to trumpet her last-minute endorsement of Mr. Trump. Ms. Kelly said the primary reasons she is supporting Mr. Trump are migrant crime and men’s participation in women’s sports. “President Trump will stop it,” she said. “President Trump gets it.” Ms. Kelly had been anathema to a segment of Trump supporters because of the first question she fired at him in the first Republican-primary debate in 2015. Then a Fox News host, Ms. Kelly’s went hard after the political newcomer, highlighting his disparaging comments about women.
The 2024 race was different and Mr. Trump saw a providential hand in it. Mr. Trump’s third bid for the White House will forever be remembered for his near-death experience in July in nearby Butler, Pennsylvania, where he narrowly survived an assassination attempt.