Over their attitude on abortion, Vice President Kamala Harris attacked Donald Trump and the Republican Party fiercely in an impassioned address given in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday. Harris called Trump and his supporters “hypocrites,” charging them of violating women’s rights and bringing terrible results from tight abortion restrictions. Her comments coincided with the first voters starting to cast their ballots for the predicted fiercely contested U.S. presidential elections.
Harris holds Trump responsible for the Georgia abortion law.
Speaking to a mostly female audience, Harris directly attacked the abortion ban in Georgia, a battleground state, attributing blame for its execution to Trump. She connected the law to the deaths of two women, contending that Georgia’s six-week prohibition on restricted abortion rules has disastrous effects. Harris’ voice was strong as she attacked Republicans, saying, “These hypocrites want to start talking about how this is in the best interest of women and children. Where then have you disappeared to? How could they?”
Harris has concentrated most of her campaign on what she refers to as “Trump abortion bans,” since assuming control of the Democratic ticket two months ago. Frequent boasting about his influence in selecting three Supreme Court judges, Trump is credited with helping to reverse the national right to abortion in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization outcome. Since then, at least twenty states—including Georgia—have passed either complete or partial abortion bans; Georgia’s statute forbids most abortions following six weeks of pregnancy.
Emphasizing the Tragic Story of Amber Nicole Thurman
Harris highlighted the narrative of 28-year-old Georgia mother Amber Nicole Thurman, who passed away in 2022 from abortion pill complications. Harris said that if timely medical treatment had been given, Thurman’s death may have been avoided—a delay a state commission classified as “preventable.” Leading the throng in chanting Thurman’s name, Harris vowed to make sure Thurman would not be remembered just as a statistic. Harris had visited Thurman’s family on Thursday at a campaign event organized by Oprah Winfrey, therefore reinforcing her major campaign topic of reproductive rights.
Early Voting Starts in Strategic States
Early voting began in three states— Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota—46 days ahead of the November 5 election as Harris spoke. Most U.S. states let early voting—in-person or by mail—give voters more freedom in casting their ballots. With both Harris and Trump fighting for every potential vote in the campaign, the 2024 election is predicted to be rather tight.
Voters lined up at an Arlington, Virginia polling location to cast their ballots; some wore “Harris-Walz” shirts while others held signs supporting Trump and his running buddy. “Voting early, especially on day one, helps the campaign and raises the enthusiasm level,” 55-year-old voter Michelle Kilkenny said.
Particularly in key states like Georgia, where the results can decide the fate of the election, the stakes are great. Since replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee, Harris has been able to close the polling disparity; yet, she is still stuck in a neck-and-neck contest with Trump.
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The Argument for Every Vote
Both candidates are vying for every vote in a contest that seems to be among the tightest in recent memory as the election is just a few weeks away. Since taking front stage as the Democratic candidate, Harris, 59, has gathered momentum; but, she is up against Trump, who still commands a devoted following.
As the two contenders advance, abortion—especially the stringent legislation passed in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling—probably will remain a defining question in the race. In her address, Harris made it very evident that she plans to keep underlining the effects of these laws, therefore establishing herself as a protector of women’s rights in a country split along lines.
