Harris Kicks Off Campaign With First Rally in Battleground Wisconsin

Vice President Kamala Harris hosted her first rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 23, launching her campaign as the Democratic Party’s new likely presidential nominee.

“The path to the White House goes through Wisconsin,” she told the cheering crowd.

“And to win in Wisconsin, we are counting on you.”

Highlighting her career as a prosecutor and her commitments to “building up” the middle class, passing gun control laws, and securing abortion-access legislation through Congress, Ms. Harris promised to “unite” the Democratic Party and “win in November.”

“This campaign is also about two different visions for our nation, one where we are focused on the future; the other focused on the past,” she said.

“We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by, but to get ahead. A future where no child has to grow up in poverty, where every worker has the freedom to join a union, where every person has affordable health care, affordable child care, and paid family leave.”

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In two days since President Joe Biden pulled out of the 2024 race, Ms. Harris has secured key endorsements from party leaders, acquired pledged delegates the president won during the state primaries and caucuses, and established a campaign team to take on the Trump–Vance ticket in November.

Many top Democrats, including the president, have rallied around Ms. Harris as the presumptive party nominee.

Several state delegations met late Monday to confirm their support for Ms. Harris, including Texas and her home state of California.

By Monday night, the vice president had the support of at least 2,574 delegates, according to an Epoch Times tally of delegates—more than the 1,976 majority of delegates she’ll need to win on a first ballot.

She has received nods from Democratic Party elites, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She also broke a 24-hour fundraising record within the first day of her campaign.

“So friends, we have 105 days until Election Day, and in that time, we got some work to do, but we’re not afraid of hard work. We like hard work, don’t we? And we will win this election.”

She also thanked President Joe Biden for his endorsement after the president pulled out of the race on Sunday.

“I know we are all deeply, deeply grateful for his continuing service to our nation, and it is my great honor to have Joe Biden’s endorsement in this race,” Ms. Harris said.

“Joe’s legacy of accomplishment over his entire career and over the past three and a half years is unmatched in modern history in one term.”

As she concluded her remarks, the vice president acknowledged the tough road her campaign faces on the path to victory in November.

She said the campaign needs to focus on making phone calls, knocking on doors, and getting voters to register.

“Now, Wisconsin, today, I ask you, are you ready to get to work? Do we believe in freedom? Do we believe in opportunity? Do we believe in the promise of America? And are we ready to fight for it?

“And when we fight, we win.”