(NewsNation) — Vice President Kamala Harris held her first campaign rally as the presumptive Democratic nominee, appearing in Milwaukee on Tuesday to highlight the differences between herself and former President Donald Trump.
“The path to the White House goes through Wisconsin,” Harris said as she greeted the crowd after walking out to Beyonce’s “Freedom.”
The vice president contrasted her record as a prosecutor with Trump, noting that she prosecuted a for-profit college in California, specialized in sexual abuse cases and as California’s attorney general, went after banks for fraud.
As she listed her accomplishments, Harris pointed out Trump’s record running a for-profit college, being held liable for committing sexual abuse and being convicted of 34 felonies in a fraud case in New York.
The vice president called her campaign a “people-first” effort, getting cheers as she pledged to address access to health care, affordable child care, paid family leave and the ability to retire.
“When our middle class is strong, America is strong,” she said.
Harris also attacked Project 2025, saying Trump wants to take the country backward. She specifically called out efforts to return the Affordable Care Act and the provision that keeps insurers from rejecting coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
The crowd changed “we’re not going back” in response, as Harris called the campaign a fight for the future and freedom.
“The shoulders on which we stand, generations of Americans before us, led the fight for freedom, and now, Wisconsin, the baton is in our hands,” Harris said.
Other policies in Harris’ speech included pledges to advance gun control laws, including an assault weapons ban, and to protect reproductive freedom and access to abortion.
Harris framed the election as the question of what kind of country Americans want to live in: one of freedom, compassion and the rule of law or one of chaos, fear and hate.
The vice president’s speech was greeted with loud cheers for her remarks and boos as she referenced Trump. She closed by telling supporters there was work to be done in the next 105 days to get out the vote and win in November.
The rally came just two days after President Joe Biden announced he was withdrawing from the ticket and endorsed his second in command. Biden’s withdrawal was a sudden reversal of his promises to stay in the race following a presidential debate that sparked fear in Democrats.
Harris doesn’t have the nomination locked down quite yet, as Democratic delegates still have to formally vote in a virtual roll call vote ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August. Recent polling shows she has enough delegate support to clinch the nomination.
In a stop at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris previewed some of her campaign, highlighting the contrast between her work as a prosecutor and former President Donald Trump’s 34 felony convictions.
Wisconsin is a key state for Democrats. Along with Michigan and Pennsylvania, it makes up a “blue wall” that could be critical in November. Last week, it was also the site of the Republican National Convention.
