ATLANTA (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday called former Republican President Donald Trump “cruel” for what he said about the grieving family of a Georgia mother who died after waiting 20 hours at a hospital to be treated for complications from abortion pills. He said. , she put fighting restrictions on reproductive care at the center of her speech to voters.
At a rally in Atlanta, Harris blamed Amber Thurman’s death on Georgia’s abortion restrictions that took effect in 2022 after the Supreme Court and three Trump-appointed judges overturned Roe v. Wade. It comes as Harris is exploring the issue to drum up support for Democrats who have pledged to restore national abortion rights if they win the White House and win enough seats in Congress.
“Donald Trump continues to refuse to take responsibility for the pain and suffering he has caused,” Harris said.
Thurman’s story is featured at the center of one of Harris’ closing campaign ads, and her family attended an Atlanta rally where her mother held up a photo of her daughter in the audience. Harris showed a video from a recent Fox News Channel town hall in which Trump was asked about the Thurman family joining a separate press call, saying, “I promise you we’ll get better ratings.”
“A grieving family, a grieving family, sharing their daughter’s memory with our country. Where is the compassion?” she asked. “What we continue to see from Donald Trump is exactly what that video shows,” Harris added. “He ignores their sadness and talks about himself and TV ratings. “It’s cruel.”
Before Harris became the Democratic nominee, Ian Summer, 19, planned to vote against Trump but was less enthusiastic about President Joe Biden. Since Harris entered the race, “she’s brought a ton of energy,” Summer said. Summer is concerned about the Trump administration’s restrictions on abortion access. “It’s very scary to know that my wife might not get the care she needs in the future,” he said.
Early voting is also underway in Georgia. More than 1.2 million votes were cast in person or by mail. Democrats are hoping a massive organizing effort will help Harris take on Trump in the final weeks of the campaign. Harris noted that former President Jimmy Carter recently voted by mail just days after his 100th birthday.
“If Jimmy Carter can vote early, so can you,” Harris said.
Roderick Williams, 56, brought his three daughters to Harris’ Atlanta rally. His youngest daughter was born around the time former President Barack Obama was inaugurated, and he hopes that Harris will be able to witness history again as she becomes the first black female president.
“It’s important to know that anything is possible,” Williams said.
Harris was joined at the rally by hometown music icon Usher, who once again brought on her star power to galvanize voters to the polls. Earlier Saturday, she appeared with Lizzo in the singer’s hometown of Detroit, marking the start of in-person voting and lavishing praise on the city after Trump’s recent disparagement.
“All the best products are made in Detroit. Coney Dogs, Faygo and Lizzo.” The singer joked to the rally crowd, pointing to himself after listing the city’s famous hot dogs and sodas.
She pointed out that Detroit revolutionized the auto and music industries and added that she already voted for Harris because early voting is a “powerful move.”
After former President Trump insulted the city during a recent campaign stop, there was an outpouring of praise for the Motor City. And Harris continued the theme by saying of her campaign, “Like the people of Detroit, we have grit, excellence and history.”
Harris, with her arms outstretched as she took the stage, showed the crowd that she was wearing a ‘Detroit vs. Everyone’ T-shirt underneath her blazer, which the owner of the business that produces the T-shirt had given her during a previous stop in the city. Yes. main. She also used a handheld microphone to move around the stage during her speech, rather than a teleprompter.
More than 1 million Michiganders have already voted by mail in the Nov. 5 election, and Harris predicted early voting turnout will be high in Detroit.
“Who is responsible for producing the album?” Harris asked the crowd as she implored them to reach a new high in early voting tallies. “We’re going to break some records here in Detroit today.”
She accused Trump of being unstable. “If you’re not sure how to vote, all you have to do is have someone watch his rally.”
“We will not get these 17 days back. “I don’t want to leave any regrets on Election Day,” the Vice President said.
Lizzo also told the crowd: “The Commander-in-Chief has good news.”
“This is a swing state of all swing states, so every last vote counts here.” the singer said. Referring to her song of the same name, Lizzo added, “If you ask me if America is ready for its first female president, there’s only one thing I can say. “It’s about time!”
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement that Harris “needed Rizzo to hide the fact that Michiganders are feeling good under President Trump.” Real wages were higher, prices were lower, and everyone was better off.
Talona Johnson, a product manager in Rochester, Michigan, attended Harris’ rally and said Harris and her team are doing what’s needed to keep people informed.
“I believe she is telling the truth. “She’s trying to help people.” Johnson said she plans to vote for Harris and sees women’s rights as her top concern.
“I don’t necessarily agree with everything she puts out, but she’s better than the alternative.”
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In comments to reporters before the rally, Harris said she was in Detroit. “To thank everyone for all they are doing to organize and register people to vote and help them vote today. She also called Detroit a “great American city” with “lots of hard-working people with grit and ambition who are worthy of respect.”
The vice president was asked whether the Biden administration’s full support for Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip could hurt her support in Michigan. Dearborn, near Detroit, is the largest city in the United States with an Arab majority.
“It’s never been easy,” Harris said of Middle East policy. “But that doesn’t mean we’re giving up.”
Associated Press writers Matt Brown in Detroit, Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta, Will Weissert and Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report.
