Philadelphia was at the center of the American political universe this week.
Vice President Kamala Harris appeared Tuesday evening for the first time alongside her newly announced running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, at Temple University. Hours earlier, the GOP’s vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, spoke at a campaign event in South Philly.
The busy day could be a precursor of a frantic few months. Philadelphia, as the most populous city in one of the most important ‘swing states,’ is likely to draw even more attention from the candidates as Election Day nears.
Mayor Cherelle Parker was among the first to the podium at the Harris-Walz rally, held at a packed Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia.
“The promise of this moment, and what it means for America, couldn’t be thicker,” Parker said. “You can feel the energy in this room. It is tangible and it is palpable.”
Other speakers included Democratic U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey, the latter of whom is engaged in his own race. The rally was the first stop for Harris in a tour of battleground states planned for the week.
“Pennsylvania picks the president,” Fetterman told the roughly 10,000 attendees. “We did that in 2020, and in three months, we’re going to do that again.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro, who met with Harris and was vetted by her team as a potential VP pick, also appeared. He referred to Walz as “a great man and an outstanding governor.”
“They chose to launch their campaign right here in the birthplace of real freedom,” Shapiro added. “Freedom is on the ballot.”
Harris and Walz attacked Trump and took jabs at Vance. After going through Walz’s background, mentioning his experience as a high school football coach, Harris compared the VP contest to “a matchup between the varsity team and the JV squad.”
“I can’t wait to debate the guy,” Walz told the audience. “If he’s willing to get off the couch and show up. You see what I did there?”
The crowd laughed at the comment, which refers to a joke that spread online using a falsified section of Vance’s memoir.
“You know it, you feel it: These guys are creepy and, yes, just weird as hell,” Walz added. “That’s what you see.”
Vance, at his rally, said he is willing to debate Walz but wants to wait until the pair are confirmed at the Democratic National Convention later this month.
“Tim Walz’s record is a joke,” he said. “He’s been one of the most far left radicals in the entire United States government at any level.”
His supporters gathered at the 2300 Arena, a smaller venue that formerly hosted Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Vance took questions from the press and brought up Philadelphians who have felt the impacts of drug addiction, which they attributed to the policies of Harris and President Joe Biden. Denise Trask shared the story of how her daughter died of an accidental overdose in 2016.
“Yes, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, pills, all of the street drugs out there are lethal in and of themselves, but the fentanyl coming right into our country, our cities and our neighborhoods is killing thousands and thousands of people every day,” she said.
“The border travesty that this current administration has neglected, allowed and even supported is infuriating and, frankly, complete lunacy on multiple levels,” Trask added.
Voting information
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 general election is Oct. 21.
Pennsylvania residents can register online at pavoterservices.pa.gov. Philadelphians can apply in-person at the Voter Registration Office, located at 520 N. Columbus Blvd. or at City Hall, Room 142.
In addition, applications are available at post offices, library branches and state liquor stores. Anyone can call the City Commissioners at 215-686-1590 and request an application be sent to their house.
Mail-in ballots can be requested until Oct. 29. Residents can apply online at pavoterservices.pa.gov or pick up an application at City Hall, Room 142, during normal business hours.
