Vice President Kamala Harris held a star-studded rally on Thursday, hosted by talk show icon Oprah Winfrey, in an effort to energize voters ahead of the crucial November 5 election. The event featured appearances from Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Rock, and Ben Stiller, who offered enthusiastic support for Harris via video.
In a chat-show style format, Winfrey kicked off the event by asking Harris about her newfound confidence after becoming the Democratic nominee, to which Harris replied, “We each have those moments in our lives when you have to step up.” The rally took place in Michigan, one of the key battleground states for the upcoming election.
Harris called for unity against divisive forces, notably criticizing former President Donald Trump. She addressed various campaign issues, including abortion rights, the economy, immigration, and gun control, while engaging with audience members sharing their personal stories.
Notably, Harris reached out to gun owners, saying, “I’m a gun owner too, if somebody breaks in my house they’re getting shot,” before laughing and acknowledging her staff’s potential reaction to the remark.
Winfrey, who also spoke at the Democratic National Convention, expressed her sense of “hope and joy rising” as she introduced Harris. The rally attracted support from various groups, including “Swifties for Harris” and “Cat Ladies for Kamala,” who tuned in remotely.
As the election race tightens with just 47 days left, Harris received a boost from a recent poll indicating she is slightly ahead in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state, although she and Trump remain evenly matched nationally.
In contrast, Trump held a darker-toned event in Washington, criticizing Jewish Americans for their historical support of Democrats and implying that their votes could influence the election outcome. He accused Harris of not sufficiently backing Israel in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas, suggesting that any Jewish voter supporting her “should have their head examined.”
The ongoing Gaza conflict could play a significant role in the election, particularly affecting Harris’s support among Arab-American communities in Michigan. Meanwhile, her running mate Tim Walz met with families of Americans held hostage by Hamas, affirming the administration’s commitment to securing their release.
Both candidates are also vying for union support, with the influential Teamsters union recently opting not to endorse any presidential candidate, a setback for Harris, although some local branches have expressed their endorsement.
