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.
