Vice President Harris Makes Final Campaign Stop in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, surrounded by bulletproof glass, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her excitement and hope for the future of America on Monday, November 4, 2024, the eve of the 2024 election (Andrew McKeough/AKSM Photography).
Former President Trump and Vice President Harris have a crowded day of campaigning hours before polls open. Only time will tell who the 47th President of the United States will be.
Article by Avery Junker, Junior White House Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA - On November 4th, Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Philadelphia Pennsylvania to deliver her final campaign remarks. Outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art nearly 30,000 spectators perched waiting for the Vice President's arrival. While waiting, they enjoyed the musical performances of multiple artists and the inspiring remarks of a few. Jazmine Sullivan, Ricky Martin, Fat Joe, Oprah Winfrey, and Lady Gaga were a few of the individuals who took the stage before Vice President Harris’ arrival.
Two of the most prominent speakers who stood up and spoke were Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey and Governor Josh Shapiro. Senator Casey took the opportunity to express his support for the Vice President as well as promote his own campaign. Governor Shapiro took an alternative path, energizing the crowd and speaking to voters everywhere. Encouraging them, jokingly, to fill in the circles on their ballots carefully. Both speeches were brief but impactful and got the large crowd excited for the arrival of Vice President Harris.
In congruence with the Philadelphia rally, Vice President Harris and Tim Waltz held Vote for Freedom rallies in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and other battleground states. The rallies were live-streamed in a combined visual and were broadcasted across the Ben Franklin Parkway for spectators to follow along. Musical performances by Katy Perry and Sugarland were seen from states away by the crowd that excitedly stood around the museum.
Shortly after 11:10 PM, Lady Gaga took the stage, expressing her passion and support for the Harris Waltz campaign. She sang God Bless America, sitting down at the piano belting out the lyrics. Individuals across platforms watched the Vote For Freedom Livestream and saw her, other celebrities, and politicians back Vice President Harris all evening.
As a final push in a short but intense campaigning season, Vice President Harris finally took the stage at roughly 11:30 PM. In Philadelphia, surrounded by bulletproof glass, she expressed her excitement and hope for the future of America. She believes her presidency could encourage a shift in American politics, where “we see our fellow Americans not as an enemy but as a neighbor”. Young first-time voters were praised and encouraged to vote, and the Vice President hoped the crowd would drive their peers and families to the polls tomorrow. What could’ve been a tired speech after a jam-packed 107 days of campaigning was full of vigor and life. She took the stage and incited hope and belief in a massive crowd.
Upon wrapping up her roughly eighteen minute speech for the night, she encouraged Americans to get out and vote. Vice President Harris closed out her speech with a classic political line: “God bless you and God bless the United States of America”.
Her supporters cheered her yelling “When we fight, we win” and “We will win” as the second gentleman Doug Emhoff approached and they glided off of the stage. Vice President Harris’ motorcade left abruptly after, to presumably prepare for a day that could change her life as Lady Gaga returned to the stage and sang her iconic song, The Edge of Glory to close out the evening.