Vice President Kamala Harris took aim at Donald Trump on Friday, raising doubts about his ability to serve as President. Her comments came after reports suggested that the 78-year-old Republican candidate might be feeling "exhausted," leading him to cancel several interviews.
Trump Cancels Interviews Amid Exhaustion Rumors
While Trump has been actively appearing on TV, he's mostly chosen networks that offer friendly coverage. However, he canceled scheduled interviews with NBC, CNBC, and CBS and even skipped a second debate with Harris after losing the first one. According to Politico, a Trump aide mentioned that he was "exhausted," though Trump’s team called this claim "detached from reality."
Harris Criticizes Trump's Stamina
Harris, who turns 60 this weekend, didn’t hold back. She said, "If you're exhausted on the campaign trail, it raises real questions about whether you are fit for the toughest job in the world." She made these remarks during multiple campaign stops in Michigan, a key swing state.
Trump Fires Back
Trump quickly responded, saying he had not canceled anything. He called Harris a "loser" and mocked her by saying she "doesn’t have the energy of a rabbit." He also claimed he was leading in the polls and taunted Harris by saying she didn’t pass the bar exam, though she did, back in 1990.
Clashing Rallies
Both candidates are keeping busy with their campaigns. Trump has been surprising analysts by visiting not only swing states but also areas where he’s unlikely to win, but can still draw big crowds. On Thursday, he attended a charity dinner in New York where he mocked Harris, earning some gasps for his off-color remarks.
On Friday, he did a friendly interview on Fox News before heading to Michigan to counter Harris’s campaign events. Both are focusing on key battleground states where early voting is already in full swing.
Early Voting Sees Record Numbers
Harris has been encouraging her supporters to vote early, hoping to balance out the traditional Republican edge on Election Day. So far, about 12 million votes have been cast, with a third coming from the seven crucial swing states. Early voting records are being set in states like Georgia and North Carolina.
In North Carolina, the first day of voting broke the previous record set during the pandemic in 2020. Registered Democrats are leading in early voting numbers, while Republicans, who have often criticized mail-in voting, make up about a third.
Appealing to Blue-Collar Voters
After an event in Grand Rapids, Harris spoke at a union hall in Lansing. She talked about the importance of the labor movement, saying it’s "on the line" in the upcoming election. She had plans to continue her campaign with an evening rally in Oakland County and return to Detroit on Saturday.
Navigating Foreign Policy Issues
Harris has also been balancing her support for President Biden’s stance on Israel. However, many Muslim and Arab American voters, particularly in Michigan, have expressed frustration over the rising death toll in Gaza. She acknowledged the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which she hoped would lead to a ceasefire, but Israel made it clear that their campaign would continue.
Meanwhile, Trump, speaking before his Detroit event, said that Sinwar's death could bring peace to the region but warned Biden against limiting Israel's actions.