U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign fundraiser at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Mass., on Saturday.
Stephanie Scarbrough/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
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Stephanie Scarbrough/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In her first fundraiser since becoming her party’s presidential nominee, Vice President Harris on Saturday called herself the underdog in the race but predicted that she and the Democrats will win in November.
“We have a fight ahead of us and we are the underdogs in this race,” she said Saturday afternoon at the Colonial Theater. “But this is a grassroots campaign and we have momentum.”
Harris told supporters that the race was a choice between two visions for the country — one that looks toward the future and one that wants to dismantle the country’s progress.
“Let’s make no mistake. This campaign is not just about us versus Donald Trump,” she said. “While we are fighting to move our country forward, Donald Trump is intent on moving our country backward.”
The vice president also returned to the theme of freedom — freedom to vote, freedom from gun violence and reproductive freedom. She accused Trump of being a threat to women’s fundamental right to make decisions about their bodies and suggested he would stop there.
“Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and the rule of law or a country of chaos, fear and hatred?” Harris said.
She also commented on Trump and his vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance, the latest attacks on her since she became the Democratic presidential nominee.
“You may have noticed, Donald Trump has resorted to some blatant lies about my record and some of the things that he and his running mate have said, which are bizarre,” she said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
The vice president is expected to raise more than $1.4 million at her first fundraiser, according to Harris’ campaign. About 800 people attended the event.
