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| US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris joins US television producer Oprah Winfrey at a 'Unite for America' live streaming rally in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on September 19, 2024. Photo: AFP |
Kamala Harris held a star-studded rally on Thursday, hosted by talk show icon Oprah Winfrey, aiming to captivate voters as Donald Trump faced backlash for his remarks about Jewish Americans. The event featured Hollywood luminaries like Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Rock, and Ben Stiller, who offered glowing support for the Democratic vice president via video.
On a chat-show-style stage, Winfrey opened the event by questioning Harris about her newfound confidence after taking over the nomination from President Joe Biden. Harris responded, “We each have those moments in our lives when you have to step up,” during the livestreamed "Unite for America" event. The two embraced as Harris joined Winfrey on stage in Michigan, a key battleground state for the upcoming November 5 election.
Harris called for unity against the “powerful forces that would try to divide us,” specifically targeting former President Trump. She laid out her key campaign issues, including abortion, the economy, immigration, and gun control, while audience members shared their personal stories.
In a humorous moment, Harris, a gun owner herself, made a lighthearted comment about defending her home, saying, “If somebody breaks in my house, they're getting shot,” before jokingly acknowledging that her staff would have to manage the fallout from her comment.
Winfrey, who previously spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, expressed optimism as she introduced Harris, stating she felt “hope and joy rising.” Various supporter groups, including "Swifties for Harris" (fans of Taylor Swift) and "Cat Ladies for Kamala" (mocking comments by Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance), participated remotely.
With 47 days until the election, the race remains tight. A recent New York Times/Siena poll indicated Harris slightly ahead in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state while showing her and Trump nearly tied nationally.
The rally stood in stark contrast to Trump’s recent remarks at an anti-Semitism event in Washington, where he criticized Jewish voters for leaning Democratic, stating, “If I don't win this election... the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss.” He further accused Harris of not supporting Israel sufficiently after the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
The Gaza conflict is likely to be a pivotal issue in the election, with the "Uncommitted" movement opposing Biden-Harris administration policies announcing they would not support Harris. This could impact her support in Michigan, which has a significant Arab-American population against the war.
Meanwhile, Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz, met with families of Americans held hostage by Hamas, reiterating Biden and Harris’s commitment to securing their release.
As both candidates vie for support from unions, the powerful Teamsters union recently refrained from endorsing a presidential candidate, a departure from its longstanding tradition of backing Democrats. However, local Teamsters branches representing one million members have since declared their endorsement for Harris.
