Harris Responds to Trump’s Personal Attacks During Pennsylvania Bus Tour

On August 18, just a day before the commencement of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off a campaign bus tour in Pennsylvania. She is joined by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as they step up their efforts with fewer than 80 days remaining until the election.

Pennsylvania remains a crucial swing state. It was previously won by former President Donald Trump in 2016 and was claimed by President Joe Biden in 2020. Harris and Walz, along with their spouses, plan a series of stops across the western region of the state, marking the first time all four have been together on the campaign trail.

This region, particularly in the southwest, has historically been a battleground that plays a vital role in elections.

Among their planned visits, Harris and Walz are set to stop in Rochester, where they will participate in a phone bank. They will also make appearances in Alleghany and engage voters in small community settings as well as retail spaces. Their agenda may include attending campaign kickoff events, with a focus on meeting everyday Pennsylvanians.

The duo has already visited a local campaign office, a fire station, and a high school, even making a stop at a Sheetz convenience store, an iconic Pennsylvania chain.

While in Beaver County, Walz reminisced about his time as a high school football coach, motivating the crowd with a message of preparation and commitment.

He shared an impactful motto: “There’s an old saying, ‘You don’t hope you’re gonna win. You prepare to win, and you give it the best you got.’ When that game’s over, you want to know you left it all on the field. That’s all we’re asking. Let’s leave it all in the field.”

The pair is also set to appear in Milwaukee shortly, in the same venue where Republicans held their national convention just last month.

During a phone banking event, Harris addressed the hardworking residents of Pennsylvania, stating, “You’ve got a lot of work, Pennsylvania, that you’re carrying right now … and we’re going to get it done.”

In response to recent personal attacks made by Trump during his Pennsylvania speech, Harris remarked, “Anyone who seeks to bring others down is a coward.” Her comments came after she spoke to roughly 150 supporters outside a field office in Rochester.

As they wrapped up their appearances, Harris and Walz greeted supporters before boarding their large, blue and white campaign bus, which has been dubbed “On the Road to Chicago.”

Trump, who campaigned in Pennsylvania the day before, appeared to confuse the state with North Carolina. He, alongside his running mate Sen. J.D. Vance, is scheduled to return to Pennsylvania with separate rally appearances in York and Philadelphia.

The Midwest is familiar territory for Walz, who highlighted his rural roots and appealed for support from working-class and moderate voters during a speech in Nebraska.

Polls indicate a fiercely contested race ahead. The Harris-Walz campaign bus is set to arrive in Chicago just before the DNC begins on Monday.

While the former president has largely held back his comments about the upcoming convention, he is reportedly gearing up for a debate with Harris on September 10, where the Harris team has enlisted Democratic strategist Philippe Reines to assist in her preparations.