We’re down to the final hours of voting in America, and leaders are addressing their constituents in different parts of the country. But it was prospective democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ eleventh hour appeals on social media and in-person which really have us feeling hopeful.
Giving an impromptu speech at Southfield Michigan, Harris told a crowd that she was fed up of talking about Trump (who she flippantly referred to as ‘the guy in the White House) and was now focused on the future.
“Listen, listen, I’m at the point now where I don’t feel like talking about the guy currently in the White House. You don’t need to do that. Let’s talk about the opportunity that’s in front of us right now which is to elect Joe Biden.”
Harris identified the challenge at hand, and working through the fallout from the pandemic which has so far killed more than 225,000 American people.
“People had to live their last days on earth by themselves because of the nature of this pandemic,” she said “They couldn’t be with family members to hold their hand,” a visibly emotional Harris highlighted.
When @JoeBiden and I are in the White House we’ll listen to scientists, promote masks to save lives, implement nationwide testing and tracing, and ensure vaccines are free to all.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 3, 2020
Alluding to Biden’s unique relationship with compassion instilled in him after the tragic and premature deaths of his first wife, Neilia, baby daughter Naomi and then later his eldest son, Beau to cancer, Harris said that the Democratic candidate understood “the dignity of life”.
“We have in our hands an option to elect a president in Joe Biden who understands, sadly more than most, what it means to go through being in a hospital with somebody, losing somebody you love. He understands the dignity of life, the dignity of love and the importance for caring for fellow human beings.”
“We have in our hands and in our power the choice of electing a president, who in the midst of a mass casualty event, rose; who will lead with compassion and care. In Joe Biden, somebody who says ‘look, yes president Obama and I pushed through the Affordable Care Act that helps 20 million people, but let’s build on that, not take it away.”
One day, our children and grandchildren are going to look us in the eye and ask what we did in this moment.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 3, 2020
And I want to be able to say, we did everything we could to fight for our country and their future. Go vote.
“Joe Biden says you need to continue protecting people with pre existing conditions,” she added. “Joe says we need to bring down the cost of drug tests, bring down the cost of premiums, we should bring eligibility for medicare down to age 60. Joe says, ‘I understand that when we’re talking about healthcare, the body doesn’t just start from the neck down it moves the neck up, and that’s why we’re covering mental health care.”
Harris also touched on mass job insecurity and the thousands of Americans struggling to put food on the table following the crisis.
“In America, over 30 million people filed for unemployment the last several months,” she said.
“When we’re looking at folks standing at parks in food lines and mothers describing their children under twelve as being hungry. So many people– I think the numbers stand at 1 in 6– have described not being able to pay rent last month and they’re concerned they can’t pay it next month. And Joe understands this.”
“Joe understands that you don’t deal with America’s economy like these other guys did, which is passing a tax bill which benefits the top and the biggest corporations in America. When Joe is asked ‘how is the economy doing?’ he says, ‘well, tell me how our working people are doing? ‘How are working families doing?'”
“The choice we have right now is in our hands. The power is with us, the people.”
Speaking in Philadelphia shortly after, Joe Biden said that he felt thankful and optimistic.
“The country is ready,” he told supporters.
“We’re going to have more people vote this year than anytime in American history,” he predicted. “They expect more than 150 million people to vote, and guess what? people between the ages of 18 and 30 are turning out in big numbers and that’s going to be a big deal.”
“And 54% of the vote so far is women.”
“We have an enormous opportunity, I want everyone to understand. The public nationwide has figured it out. Not only are we going to be able to overcome this virus by taking some smart moves, but secondly, we’re going to rebuild the middle class.”
“I promise you this, if you elect me President, there will be no red states or blue states, only the United States of America.”