With only days until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday called out former President Donald Trump for his recent “very offensive” remarks about women. As both candidates campaign intensively across key battleground states, Harris urged voters to reject what she described as Trump’s disrespectful and outdated views on women’s rights in America.
In a whirlwind campaign tour, Trump held a rally in New Mexico, focusing on immigration and depicting what he claimed was a dangerous migrant presence in the United States, although there is no verified data linking migrants to increased crime rates. “Migrants are unleashing a violent killing spree all across America,” he said, a remark dismissed by many fact-checkers. His comments and focus on immigration seem aimed at securing the Latino vote in nearby states like Arizona, which Trump hopes to win back after losing it in 2020.
Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign in the West emphasized an inclusive vision. Speaking in Las Vegas at a rally where she was introduced by singer Jennifer Lopez, Harris offered a message of support for reproductive rights and freedom of choice. She condemned Trump’s recent remark at a rally, where he stated he would “protect” women “whether they like it or not.” Harris called this “offensive to everybody” and argued that Trump’s views would result in harmful policies.
“Trump has shown he doesn’t respect women’s intelligence or their right to make their own choices,” Harris stated. She warned that his election could lead to national abortion restrictions, limited birth control access, and invasive monitoring of women’s reproductive health.
Reproductive rights have been a powerful issue for Democrats since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Polls reveal a significant gender gap among voters, with women showing stronger support for Harris, while men have tended to lean toward Trump, signaling that abortion may be pivotal in determining the election outcome.
On the campaign trail, Trump continued his criticism of prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Harris, whom he referred to as a “low IQ individual” in an interview with Tucker Carlson, a right-wing media figure who introduced Trump with high praise despite past critical remarks about him.
While campaigning in New Mexico, Trump also attempted to win over Hispanic voters, saying, “I love Hispanics. They are hard workers and warm people,” a comment that came under fire after Puerto Ricans criticized an offensive remark made by a speaker at one of his rallies. Responding to his remarks, Jennifer Lopez addressed the Las Vegas crowd, saying, “It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans that were offended. It was every Latino in this country and everyone with a sense of decency.”
Trump also confirmed that he had filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, accusing the network of “election interference fraud.” He alleged that CBS edited an interview with Harris on the Biden administration’s response to the Israel-Gaza conflict to conceal a “word salad” response. CBS has denied these allegations.
As both candidates pursue votes in swing states, the latest New York Times/Siena poll shows Harris leading among Hispanic voters, with 52% support compared to Trump’s 42%. Early voting has already seen 63.5 million Americans cast their ballots, reflecting over 40% of the total votes in the 2020 election. Both candidates are set to continue their campaigns in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday, where they will make final appeals to voters in one of the nation’s critical swing states.
