Harris Homecoming: VP returns to East Bay to back Newsom ahead of recall

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a No on the Recall campaign event with California Gov. Gavin Newsom at IBEW-NECA Joint Apprenticeship Training Center on September 08, 2021 in San Leandro, California.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a No on the Recall campaign event with California Gov. Gavin Newsom at IBEW-NECA Joint Apprenticeship Training Center on September 08, 2021 in San Leandro, California. Photo credit Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Once, they were District Attorney and Mayor of San Francisco.

Now, Kamala Harris is Vice President and Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California, fighting for his political life in next week's recall election.

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The pair held a joint campaign rally in San Leandro on Wednesday after Harris flew in from Washington to give Newsom a boost, warning voters of the consequences if Newsom is replaced after voting ends on Sept. 14.

Harris told about 150 union members and party activists at the rally, held in a union training center parking lot, that Republicans will target governors in other Democratic states if the California recall succeeds.

"This election, guys, it's not a one-off," Harris said. "We need everyone to vote no. I voted no. Doug (Emhoff), my husband (and) the first second gentleman, voted no on his ballot and we mailed 'em in. And we've got to get this done. We've got six days."

Harris spoke for about 11 minutes at the rally, not far from her native Oakland. She reminded the crowd of his bold foresight on same-sex marriage, referencing Newsom directing San Francisco officials to issue same-sex marriage licenses in 2004.

"We want our leaders in California to have a vision of what is possible," Harris said. "To see the opportunity of a moment, to inspire and uplift all people. That's what the people of California have always wanted, and that's why the Republicans' recall will fail."

Gov. Newsom agreed, as long as Californians remember to vote. The campaign is focused on encouraging turnout over its final days.

"If we're not successful in rejecting this recall, Larry Elder is gonna be sworn in as your next governor," Newsom said, to boos, of the conservative talk radio host. Elder, running as a Republican, was the preferred replacement candidate of 26% of likely voters in the Public Policy Institute of California's latest statewide survey.

"I wanna sound like (former President Barack) Obama saying, 'Don't boo. Vote,' " Newsom added.

The governor had the popular former president on his mind because Obama is now on Newsom's team. Obama appears in an advertisement, which Newsom tweeted on Wednesday, directly telling Californians to vote no on the recall.

The White House on Tuesday said President Joe Biden will travel to California "early next week" to appear alongside Newsom.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images