Gov. Josh Shapiro (center) takes a selfie with Sam Waterston (far left), Martin Sheen (left), Robert De Niro (right) and hundreds of supporters at a “get out the vote” rally in Harrisburg Nov. 3, 2024 (Photo by Ben Wasserstein for the Capital-Star)
With fewer than 24 hours before polls open, top surrogates are trying to woo over voters in the Harrisburg area.
Around 200 people came out to see Gov. Josh Shapiro alongside Hollywood stars Robert De Niro, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston.
Their message: Vote blue down the ticket.
“We got to make one final push and elect Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats up and down the ballot,” De Niro said.
Eugene DePasquale, Democratic candidate for state attorney general, made his case by telling supporters he would protect reproductive rights and told voters of his wife’s experience with an ectopic pregnancy.
“That procedure is now illegal in five states,” he said. “Women are fleeing those states. They come to Pennsylvania and other states because of that.”
When asked why people should care what a celebrity thinks of a candidate “The West Wing” star Martin Sheen said their careers are acting, but activism is what they “do to stay alive.”
“I’m often asked how I managed to unite the two, but in fact, it was an unconscious thing,” he said. “It was more of a natural progression.”
The politicians and stars called for people to vote for Harris and DePasquale, but also for Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) for her state Senate race and Janelle Stelson for race to represent Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional district, currently seated by Rep. Scott Perry.
Much criticism was levied towards Trump and the rhetoric he has been spreading which some argue is authoritarian.
In December, he said he would be a dictator on “day one.” On Sunday, he said he wouldn’t mind “if someone shoots ‘through the fake news.’”
De Niro called Donald Trump a threat to the Constitution, citing recent remarks from Trump’s former Chief of Staff John Kelly.
“Trump said he wanted generals to be like Hitler,” he said. “He wanted generals to be like Hitler. This is crazy. I mean, seriously, even Dick Cheney, the architect of the disastrous Iraq War, recognized the danger of another Trump presidency.”
Shapiro, who was a contender for Harris’ running mate, said voters have the power to retain the freedom and values instituted by the country and state’s founders.
“In Philadelphia, where 248, years ago, we declared our independence from a king,” he said. “We are not going back to a king.”
Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. Mail ballots must be returned to local elections office by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
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