In a sharp rebuttal, Vice President Kamala Harris condemned former President Donald Trump’s remarks about women on Thursday, calling his statements “very offensive” and renewing focus on reproductive rights as both candidates campaign fiercely across key western battlegrounds just days before the November 5 election.
Both campaigns are intensifying their outreach to Latino voters and are focusing on immigration as a critical issue. To bolster Harris’s efforts, pop star Jennifer Lopez is set to join her for a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, highlighting the Democrats’ support from prominent Latino figures. Trump, meanwhile, rallied in Nevada and scheduled an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Arizona.
Harris started her day with a stop in Wisconsin, addressing Trump’s recent remarks about wanting to “protect the women of our country… whether the women like it or not,” which she criticized as disregarding women’s autonomy. “He does not prioritize the freedom of women and their intelligence to make decisions about their own lives and bodies,” she said.
Reproductive rights have become a pivotal issue, especially since the conservative-leaning Supreme Court rescinded the federal right to abortion in 2022, prompting Harris to link the change to “Trump abortion bans.” With a clear gender gap in this year’s polls—women leaning toward Harris and Trump drawing strong male support—this issue could significantly impact the election’s outcome.
Both candidates have faced recent controversies. Harris’s campaign capitalized on backlash from a Trump rally where a speaker described Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” However, Harris was on the defensive after President Joe Biden referred to some Trump supporters as “garbage,” prompting her to clarify her stance against criticizing voters based on political choice.
With over 60 million Americans having voted early or by mail, the race remains intensely competitive. A recent New York Times/Siena poll showed Harris leading Trump 52 to 42 percent among Hispanic voters. Both candidates are set to continue their campaigns in crucial states, including North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, as Election Day approaches.
