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Pennsylvania was the battleground state of the 2024 election, and by the time November finally rolled around, we were all definitely feeling battle-tested. Candidates spent so much time and money trying to persuade Keystone State voters that they were the best option, so naturally Pennsylvania had a front-row seat to a lot of key moments.
Here in no particular order are the top Pennsylvania moments of the 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump assassination attempt
A gunman shot at now President-elect Donald Trump during a July 13 rally in Butler. Trump was not seriously injured but one person was killed in the incident, and the photo of Trump raising a fist in the air as blood streamed down his face became one of the most memorable images of 2024. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following a congressional hearing where she was questioned about how the gunman was able to get so close to the former president.
Trump returned to the scene of the shooting for a rally in October, the first Trump campaign event featuring Tesla CEO Elon Musk. And speaking of Musk…
Elon Musk stumps for Trump
After appearing at the second Butler rally, Musk set up shop in Pennsylvania, suddenly aware of the state’s important place in the electoral puzzle. He appeared at “town hall” events where attendees were eligible to win cash prizes, which drew the attention of the Philadelphia District Attorney, who questioned whether the giveaways were illegal lotteries. A judge ultimately ruled that the DA had failed to demonstrate that the giveaways were lotteries.
Harris-Walz ticket debuts in Philly, with introduction from Shapiro
Following a brief veepstakes where Gov. Josh Shapiro was one of two finalists to join the Democratic ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris ultimately chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. The pair made their first appearance together at a rally on Temple University’s campus, with Walz thanking Harris for bringing “joy” back into the campaign.
Shapiro gave a fiery speech at the rally before the candidates took the stage, pledging his support and reiterating he loved being Pennsylvania’s governor.
Trump ‘works’ a shift at McDonald’s and praises Arnold Palmer’s anatomy
It’s a little stunning to consider that those two events happened within the same weekend, but they did — and Trump also found time to attend a Steelers game. During a rally in Latrobe, Trump said when Palmer took showers with the other golf pros, “they came out of there they said, ‘oh my God, that’s unbelievable.’”
The next day, he handed out drive-thru orders to pre-screened “customers” at a McDonald’s in Bucks County, attended a town hall in Lancaster, and attended the Steelers’ game in a private suite.
Harris-Trump debate in Philadelphia
In what was perhaps the high point of the Harris-Walz campaign, Harris put Trump on the defensive throughout the only meeting of the two candidates, in October at the National Constitution Center in Philly. Trump referred to unverified (and yet unproven) “reports” that immigrants in Ohio were eating people’s pets, and said he had “concepts of a plan” to replace the Affordable Care Act. Harris suggested that people left Trump’s rallies early because they were bored, told Trump he had lost the 2020 election and bore responsibility for the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Later, in the debate spin room afterward, Trump appeared in person, declaring victory and airing some grievances. He complained about the moderators and refused to meet Harris for further debates.