Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrive to a campaign event on August 18, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH — Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are campaigning in western Pennsylvania on Sunday for a bus tour of communities around Pittsburgh. It’s their first appearance in the western end of the state as running mates, and comes the day before the Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago.
Harris officially became the Democratic presidential nominee earlier this month by a roll call vote of Democratic National Committee delegates, after President Joe Biden bowed out of his reelection bid July 21 and endorsed her.
Sunday marks Harris’ eighth visit to Pennsylvania this year, and her 18th visit since being sworn into office. She introduced Walz as her running mate on Aug. 6 in Philadelphia. She also appeared in Philadelphia to court Asian-American voters on July 13 and has also made stops this cycle in Pittsburgh to tout the administration’s infrastructure investments; in Philadelphia to discuss student debt with educators; and in Montgomery County to speak in support of reproductive rights.
Although he visited the eastern half of the state several times in 2024, Biden only made one 2024 campaign stop in western Pennsylvania, visiting the United Steelworkers in April ahead of the state’s primary election.
Former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee for president, campaigned in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, and is holding a press conference in York on Monday. His running mate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will also be in Pennsylvania on Monday, at a separate press conference in Philadelphia.
Trump rallies in Wilkes-Barre, bashing Harris and Biden on the economy
Trump did not mention abortion at the rally in Wilkes-Barre, a key issue that Harris has led on for the Biden administration and during the campaign. But in addition to declaring “I’m a better looking person than Kamala” at Saturday’s rally, Trump criticized Harris’ economic policies.
“Inflation has been devastating under this group of people that have no idea what the hell they’re doing,” Trump said. “Are you better off with Kamala and Biden than you were under President Donald J. Trump? I don’t think so.”
The annual inflation rate was 2.9% in July, the lowest rate since 2021, but both campaigns have put the economy front and center, as it remains top of mind for voters. Harris unveiled an economic proposal on Friday which included plans to ease rent increases, boost first-time home buyers, end grocery price gouging and bolster the child tax credit.
Ahead of Harris’ visit, the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee (SRCC) criticized her energy positions and policies, which it says the GOP majority in the state Senate has been working to block.
“These policies have increased electricity rates for families and small businesses and have cost Pennsylvanian’s [sic] good-paying jobs,” SRCC Communications Director Michael Straw said in a statement. “Pennsylvania can’t afford the Biden-Harris administration’s failed energy policies, whether they come from Vice President Harris or from her Democrat allies in the Pennsylvania State Senate.”
A Quinnipiac University poll released Aug. 14 shows Harris slightly leading Trump among likely voters in Pennsylvania, with three third-party candidates factored in. Harris polled especially well with women, Quinnipiac found.
“With all five contenders factored in, Harris has an edge overall, with strong support from women in must-win Pennsylvania,” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a press release.
After Sunday’s tour of western Pennsylvania, Harris and Walz are scheduled to head to Chicago. He’ll address the DNC on Wednesday, and she will formally accept Democrats’ nomination for president on Thursday.
This is a developing story that will be updated.