ATLANTA/PHILADELPHIA, Oct 20 – With the presidential election looming just over two weeks away, Vice President Kamala Harris made a concerted effort to connect with voters in Georgia on Sunday. In contrast, former President Donald Trump chose to make headlines at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, where he once again challenged Harris’s claims regarding her past employment at the fast-food chain.
As both candidates vie for votes in crucial battleground states, Harris is working to engage early voters in Georgia while Trump is focusing on his campaign in Pennsylvania as the November 5 election approaches.
During her visits to two churches, Harris commended the courageous efforts of individuals who responded to Hurricane Helene, which caused significant destruction and loss of life in Florida earlier this month. She took the opportunity to contrast her vision for the nation with the divisive tone that has characterized current political discourse, deliberately avoiding direct mention of Trump. “What we observe across our nation is a concerted effort by some to deepen divisions among us, spreading hate, inciting fear, and fostering chaos,” she stated before a large congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church located in Stonecrest, Georgia.
In her address, Harris emphasized that true leadership is defined by uplifting others rather than tearing them down. She called on congregants to support a future driven by compassion and understanding.
Harris also spoke out more pointedly during an interview with MSNBC, where she addressed Trump’s earlier remarks at a Pennsylvania rally, where he labeled her a “shit vice president.” Speaking to civil rights leader Al Sharpton, she asserted, “The American people deserve so much better than what we are witnessing.”
In Pennsylvania, Trump was seen embracing a lighter moment at a McDonald’s, where he donned a black and yellow apron and prepared french fries—a task he humorously claimed he had long wished to undertake. He engaged with supporters, frying batches of potatoes and handing them out through the drive-through window of the restaurant, which was closed to the general public for the event. “I really enjoy this job,” Trump remarked, reveling in the attention of a large crowd that had gathered outside.
This visit served as a playful jab at Harris, who has claimed she worked at a McDonald’s during her college years. Trump has countered that assertion, alleging without evidence that she never held that job. Harris’s spokesperson, Ian Sams, dismissed the stunt as a sign of Trump’s desperation, stating, “All he knows how to do is lie. He can’t fathom what it’s like to have a summer job when he was handed millions.”
The Harris campaign also pointed out that Trump’s visit contradicted his opposition to raising the federal minimum wage and his support for regulations that could complicate legal claims for workers against parent companies in cases of wage violations by franchise owners.
Celebrating a Birthday
In a personal milestone, Harris celebrated her 60th birthday while campaigning near Atlanta. The event at Divine Faith Ministries International in Jonesboro featured a special performance by music icon Stevie Wonder, who sang his hit “Higher Ground” along with a rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.”
Amidst her celebrations, Harris addressed concerns regarding polls that indicate a lack of enthusiasm for her candidacy among Black male voters, a demographic traditionally supportive of Democrats. In her conversation with Sharpton, she emphasized that the narrative about dwindling support does not reflect the reality on the ground. “Why would Black men be any different from other groups of voters? They expect us to earn their trust and support,” she noted.
To secure a successful outcome similar to President Joe Biden’s victories in Georgia and Michigan, Harris will need strong turnout from urban areas like Atlanta and Detroit, which are predominantly non-white.
Meanwhile, Trump, during a campaign event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, took a moment to extend birthday wishes to Harris, a gesture met with mixed reactions from his audience. “Happy birthday, and many more, and I genuinely mean it,” he said, despite continuing to criticize her policies and suggesting that she might be experiencing cognitive decline.
As the election draws nearer, both candidates are ramping up their efforts to engage their bases and attract undecided voters. Each is acutely aware of the stakes involved, knowing that every vote counts in this crucial electoral battle.
With their contrasting approaches Harris focused on unity and compassion, while Trump leans into his signature brand of showmanship both candidates are striving to leave a lasting impression on voters as the November election approaches.