Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris lambasted President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a speech Thursday designed to prebut Trump’s own appearance at the Republican National Convention hours later.
“And here’s what you have to understand about the nature of a pandemic: It’s relentless. You can’t stop it with a tweet. You can’t create a distraction and hope it’ll go away. It doesn’t go away,” she said. Harris’ remarks were part of the Joe Biden campaign’s efforts to counter Trump — a push that also included Biden interviews on cable news channels Thursday afternoon and a blistering new ad set to run before the President accepts his party’s renomination. She said Trump “doesn’t understand the presidency” and believes it is “all about him.” She said Trump has shown “a reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people.” “The Republican convention is designed for one purpose: To soothe Donald Trump’s ego, to make him feel good,” Harris said. “But here’s the thing: He’s the President of the United States, and it’s not supposed to be about him. It’s supposed to be about the health and the safety and the well-being of the American people.” “And on that measure,” she added, “Donald Trump has failed.” Visit CNN’s Election Center for full coverage of the 2020 race Her speech echoes a new two-minute ad Biden’s campaign is set to air on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News ahead of the convention. The ad is primarily a positive spot focused on Biden’s biography, but it also jabs Trump’s fitness for the job and handling of key issues. “Some people are always in a hurry. They run when they could walk. Race up steps when others take it slow,” a narrator says at the start of the ad as images of Biden running and biking are paired with viral video of Trump cautiously walking down a ramp earlier this year at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
