(Washington) US Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged Saturday that she was the “underdog” against Donald Trump, but said her newly launched presidential campaign would prevail over her rival’s “blatant lies”.
The latter, who has received support for a week from the big names in the Republican camp to replace Joe Biden in the race for the White House, was participating in a fundraiser in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
“We are the underdogs in this race, that’s true. But this is a grassroots campaign,” the 59-year-old former senator said after entering the room to loud applause, which included folk-rock legend James Taylor and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
The woman who became the first woman, the first African-American and the first person of Asian origin to become vice-president in January 2021 took on her new role as candidate for the November 5 election in just a few days.
She managed to give new momentum to the Democratic campaign, a week after the announcement of the withdrawal of President Joe Biden, weighed down by questions about his age and his physical and mental capacities.
On Saturday, Kamala Harris again criticized her Republican rival Donald Trump, who does not want to hear about a debate with her immediately.
“I hope he changes his mind because we have a lot to talk about,” she said.
“World’s Coin-Coin Superpower”
PHOTO KEVIN WURM, REUTERS
Fiercely anti-bitcoin during his presidency, former President Donald Trump has made a 180-degree turn on the subject.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who said Saturday he would resume outdoor campaign rallies with increased protection, spoke at a bitcoin conference in Tennessee.
Fiercely anti-bitcoin during his presidency, the former president has made a 180-degree turn on this subject. This turnaround, and the nomination of procrypto JD Vance as his running mate, have earned him the favor of the sector, which dreams of a change in regulation.
For the 78-year-old candidate, this sector is the equivalent of “the steel industry of 100 years ago.” “I think you are only just getting started,” he said.
“I have a plan for the United States to be the crypto capital of the planet and the global bitcoin superpower,” he added.
Professionals hope in particular that the billionaire, if elected, will appoint personalities open to cryptocurrencies to the SEC, the American financial markets regulator.
In the evening, Donald Trump and his running mate are scheduled to hold a campaign rally at a 6,000-seat hockey arena in the Midwestern state of Minnesota.
Not yet an outdoor gathering, but he promised to return soon, two weeks after he was injured in an assassination attempt.
“No one should prevent or interfere with freedom of speech or assembly,” the former president said on his Truth Social network, adding that the Secret Service had agreed to “significantly step up their operations.”
The statement comes after the elite security service responsible for protecting high-profile US officials suggested that the Republican’s campaign team avoid organising large outdoor events and instead opt for large indoor venues.
On July 13, the Republican candidate was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania. One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured.
The assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was shot dead. Armed with a semi-automatic rifle, he had fired several shots from the roof of a building about 150 metres from Mr Trump.
Investigators are still trying to establish the motive for the attack, which has rocked the countryside and sparked strong criticism of the secret services.