Vance criticizes Harris VP pick at counter-rally in Philadelphia
Senator JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio, shared his thoughts on the pairing of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, both Democrats, during an event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vance referenced the 2020 riots that started in Minnesota following the death of George Floyd, criticizing Walz for not preventing the rioters from burning down Minneapolis and Harris for bailing out the rioters. He described their partnership as “interesting.”
Harris faced backlash from Republicans for supporting the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which reportedly used donations to bail out individuals convicted of violent crimes rather than peaceful protesters. Vance highlighted this issue during his campaign event in South Philadelphia, expressing concerns about the Democrats’ potential switch in nominees given President Biden’s recent withdrawal from the race.
Critiquing Walz’s record, Vance portrayed him as an extreme leftist within the U.S. government. He linked Harris and Walz as representatives of a San Francisco liberal ideology, emphasizing the need for change in leadership. The event attendees echoed support for Vance, chanting his name and relating personal stories about the fentanyl crisis plaguing Philadelphia.
According to Vance, Walz’s policies worsen the fentanyl crisis, contrasting the Democrats’ efforts to address the issue with their actual impact. He criticized the Biden administration’s handling of various global and domestic crises, attributing failures to Harris and advocating for her removal from office.
Vance’s visit to Philadelphia overlapped with Harris and Walz’s joint event in the city and followed a schedule paralleling the Democratic campaign tour. Former President Trump’s running mate also embarked on a battleground state tour, seeking to counter Harris’s influence in key political regions.
