Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris told a Pennsylvania town hall on Wednesday that her administration would differ from President Joe Biden’s, while Republican Donald Trump campaigned in Georgia, another key battleground state.
Harris’s remarks come amid polling that shows Biden’s unpopularity could be a challenge for her campaign, with many voters seeking a fresh direction as the Nov. 5 election approaches.
Harris has largely sidestepped questions about how she might diverge from Biden on policy throughout her campaign. However, during a CNN town hall in Chester Township, she clarified: “My administration will not be a continuation of the Biden administration. I bring my ideas and my own experience. I represent a new generation of leadership on several issues, and I believe we must take new approaches.”
Her town hall aimed to sway undecided voters in a tight race where even small shifts could be crucial. Responding to questions from the audience, Harris promised to address high grocery prices, called for an end to the war in the Middle East, and labeled Trump a “fascist” and a “danger to America’s well-being.”
On the issue of her evolving stance on policies like fracking, Harris explained that she values building consensus over rigidly holding onto past positions. “I don’t think there’s pride in sticking to a position,” she said, reaffirming her current stance against banning fracking—a departure from her position during her 2019 presidential campaign.
When asked about expanding the Supreme Court from nine to 12 justices, Harris suggested that reforms should be considered, stating, “I do believe in reforming the court, and we should study what that looks like.”
Record Early Voting
Nearly 25 million Americans have already voted, either in person or by mail, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab. Several battleground states, including North Carolina and Georgia, have reported record turnout for early voting.
Trump, speaking at a religious event in Zebulon, Georgia, boasted about the strong early voting turnout. “The votes in Georgia and across the country are at record levels. We’re doing well, and hopefully, we can fix our country.”
Recently, Trump has been courting Christian evangelical voters, encouraging them to focus on policy rather than his controversial remarks, like his recent anecdote involving Arnold Palmer. Speaking in Zebulon, he reflected on the end of his campaign career, saying, “In many ways, it’s sad. We’ve been doing this for nine years, and now there are only 12 days left.” If Trump wins, he will serve a second and final term.
Following Zebulon, Trump held a rally in Duluth, Georgia, with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Country music star Jason Aldean also appeared, urging attendees to vote early—a message Trump has slowly embraced after years of criticizing early voting.
Pennsylvania and Georgia, both crucial battlegrounds, are expected to see heavy campaigning by Harris and Trump in the final stretch leading to the election.
