With the US presidential election just over two weeks away on Sunday, Democrat Kamala Harris visited two churches while her Republican rival Donald Trump visited another US church: a McDonald’s, where he again accused Harris of lying about her former employment with the fast-food chain, Reuters reports.
Both candidates were vying for votes in the most competitive states, with Harris, the US vice president, reaching out to early voters in Georgia and Trump, the former president, campaigning in Pennsylvania ahead of the November 5 election.
Harris emphasised the heroism of those responding to Hurricane Helene, which caused death and destruction in Florida earlier this month. She drew a contrast between her vision for America and the harsh rhetoric of the current political climate, though she did not mention Trump by name. she told thousands of parishioners at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia:
“At this point across our nation, what we do see are some trying to deepen division among us, spread hate, sow fear and cause chaos.”
Some judge a leader’s strength by “who you hit” instead of being guided by “kindness and love,” she said, urging parishioners to vote for a more compassionate future.
Harris was more blunt in the MSNBC interview when asked about Trump’s comments at a previous rally in Pennsylvania, where he called her a “shit vice president,” telling civil rights leader Al Sharpton:
“The American people deserve so much better.”
At a McDonald’s restaurant in suburban Philadelphia, Trump took off his jacket, put on a black and yellow apron and cooked a batch of fries, something he said he wanted to do “all my life.”
Trump about McDonald’s: I like this job!
The former president dipped wire baskets of potatoes in sizzling oil, then salted them and handed them out to some of his supporters through the window of the restaurant, which was closed to the general public. Thousands of people lined the street in front of the restaurant to watch the action. Trump, whose adoration for fast food has been well chronicled, said:
“I like this job. I’m having a lot of fun here.”
Trump said the visit to McDonald’s was partly a jab at Harris, who claims to have worked at the fast-food restaurant chain while attending college in California. Trump claims Harris never worked there, but has provided no evidence to back that up.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY”
Harris, who was raised on the teachings of the black church and sang in the church choir, celebrated her 60th birthday Sunday while campaigning outside Atlanta.
Music icon Stevie Wonder performed at Divine Faith Ministries International Church in Jonesboro, Georgia, performing his hit song “Higher Ground” and a version of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.”
Asked about polls showing a lack of enthusiasm for her candidacy among black men, who have been a reliable voting bloc for Democrats, Harris told Sharpton she is working to earn their votes as well. Harris said:
“There’s this narrative about what kind of support we are receiving from Black men that is just not panning out in reality. Because why would Black men be any different than any other demographic of voter? They expect that you earn their vote.”
Harris will need strong results in the non-white cities of Detroit and Atlanta and their immediate suburbs to repeat President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Michigan and Georgia.
