President Biden joins Vice President Harris’ campaign for the first time
US President Joe Biden joined Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign for the first time since she clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, taking part in a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday where Harris sought to appeal to working-class voters.
This week marks the start of the post-Labor Day race toward the November 5 election, during which Harris and her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, are expected to step up their outreach to voters, particularly in hotly contested swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Nevada.
Harris sought to use Labor Day weekend campaign events in Michigan and Pennsylvania to win over crucial blue-collar votes, and in a packed Pittsburgh auditorium, she echoed Biden’s concerns about US Steel Corp., which is being taken over by Japan’s Nippon Steel.
“US Steel is a historic American company, and it’s vital to our nation that we keep American steel companies strong… US steel must remain American-owned and American-run,” Harris said at the rally.
Biden said Harris will build on the progress they have made during his administration to improve the lives of union workers and that he will do everything he can to help.
Trump, who is in a tight race with Harris, didn’t hold rallies yesterday, but his campaign announced several events later in the week, including in North Carolina and Wisconsin.
A Trump campaign aide said Harris’ decision to rally voters with Biden gave the Republican nominee’s team another opportunity to link Democrats politically.
Trump has said he will move to block the US steel deal, a potential merger that has raised concerns among some union workers who represent a key voting bloc in Pennsylvania and other swing states.
Harris hopes to maintain the Democratic enthusiasm that began after she entered the race on July 21.
Democrats have donated record amounts to the campaign and volunteered in the tens of thousands.
According to recent poll, Kamala Harris is leading Donald Trump, 45 to 41%.
