Pittsfield, Massachusetts – Vice President Kamala Harris attended her first major fundraiser Saturday since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Speaking to more than 800 attendees in Pittsfield, Massachusetts – mostly made up of Democratic donors – Harris laid out his campaign and defended his record for his rival, former President Donald Trump.
“As attorney general, I am taking on one of the largest for-profit colleges in our country that is defrauding students,” Harris told the fundraiser. “Well, Donald Trump runs a for-profit college that cheats students,” referring to the now-defunct Trump University. In 2016, Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle several civil lawsuits brought by former students.
Harris also cited the May 2023 civil verdict that was handed down by a New York jury find Trump responsible to sexually abuse writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s.
“As a prosecutor I specialize in sexual abuse cases,” she said. “Well, Trump was found responsible for sexual harassment.”
The vice president told the crowd he was hoping for Trump will agree to debate him. Before President Biden out of the race – in the wake of the fallout over the performance in the first debate – both have agreed to the second debate taking place September 10 on ABC. Trump said he would debate Harris, but asked him to host Fox News.
“You may have seen him just pulled out of our debate,” Harris said. “I hope he reconsiders. I hope he reconsiders. We have a lot to talk about.”
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said Thursday he could not schedule a debate with Harris because “Democrats could still change their minds” about the nominee.
During the fundraiser, Harris also pledged to “finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act,” named after the Georgia congressman and civil rights icon. bill would restore provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were struck down by the Supreme Court.
Harris is also committed to working to prevent gun violence and advance the fight for reproductive rights.
“When Congress passes legislation to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, I will sign it into law,” he said.
Harris acknowledged the success of her campaign in the first day since launching, saying “momentum is on our side,” but also told donors that “we have to fight and we’re the underdogs in this race.” Harris campaign said this week has raised over $100 million since launch.
The fundraiser, benefiting Harris’ Victory Fund, raised $1.4 million, according to Harris campaign officials, more than three times the initial $400,000 goal. The event marked the first major political event in the Berkshires since a visit by first lady Michelle Obama in 2012.
Pittsfield residents lined up outside the Colonial Theater where the fundraiser was being held, showing their enthusiasm for the city that is a protagonist in the presidential race.
Harris supporters held banners reading “Princess Boss,” “first woman president” and “if my cat could vote, she would vote for you,” a reference to recent comments from Sen. JD Vance, Republican vice presidential candidate, WHO claimed in the 2021 interview that
The US is being opened by “a bunch of cat ladies without children,” and a special reference to Harris.
“I believe it’s been a long time since we had a woman in charge and I don’t want to go back,” said Pittsfield resident Patricia Labendz. “We’re not going back. I grew up in the 70s, and there was misogyny. A woman’s body is her body and no one should tell her what to do.”
Some residents were also there to show their support for Trump, holding large Trump flags, while a group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the venue.
“Don’t play both sides, pick a side to stand on and stand with,” said Eyad Alkurabi, a Pittsfield local. “If you want to stand with the Palestinians you have to stand 100%.”
