Michelle ThompsonIn the final days of the presidential race, Kamala Harris has maintained her message but noticeably left out two key words: Donald Trump. Speaking in Pittsburgh on Monday night, the vice president avoided mentioning the former president’s name while emphasizing a fresh start from the divisive Trump era. This marked a shift for Harris, who previously referenced Trump frequently enough that Republicans compiled clips of her saying his name for campaign videos.
“We have a chance in this election to finally move on from a decade of fear-driven politics,” Harris said. “We’re done with it. It’s exhausting.” Her campaign theme, often implied but now more directly stated, resonated with supporters gathered at Pittsburgh’s historic Carrie Blast Furnaces, many of whom were ready for change. This message was also central to her recent speeches in Chicago and at Washington, DC’s Ellipse, where she has campaigned heavily in key battleground states.
In Washington, Harris reminded voters, “It doesn’t have to be this way,” while in Pittsburgh, she highlighted the negative tone of recent years. “These past years have pushed Americans to turn against each other,” she said, emphasizing a more hopeful direction for the country.
Like Trump, President Joe Biden’s name was absent from her speech, but her point was unmistakable: despite Trump’s four years out of office, his political style continues to dominate. “America is ready for a fresh start,” she said, contrasting Trump’s list of “enemies” with her own “to-do list” focused on policy.
Framing her campaign as both a bid for the presidency and a movement toward a more compassionate nation, Harris stated, “Ours is not a fight against something. It’s a fight for the future.” Her final rally is set for Monday night in Philadelphia, on the iconic steps of the city’s art museum.
Emily Martinez
