NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania remains a focus of the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns on this final weekend before the election. The Harris-Walz ticket got a boost on Saturday night from Michelle Obama and Alicia Keys at a campaign rally attended by thousands at Norristown High School.
“It feels so good to be together, doesn’t it? It feels so good to see how strong and how hopeful and how organized we are,” said Obama.
She balanced her message between her enthusiastic greeting and dark visions of a second Trump term.
“Once you wink at hate and make it normal to call someone a ‘bimbo’ or ‘low-IQ’ or ‘human scum,’ you cannot control how fast and how far that fire of hate will spread. All of a sudden, someone will feel emboldened to say our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico come from an island of garbage.”
The former first lady spoke for a half-hour, painting the presidential election as more than a contest between two candidates, but a test of national character.
“We have to choose leaders that embody the values we teach our children. There is no way that we can tell our kids that anything is possible and then give them a leader that contradicts all of those lessons we taught them,” she said.
“The idea that we would choose that path again — it breaks my heart and I know it terrifies many of you as well.”
Obama was joined by pop star Alicia Keys, who urged supporters not to sit on the sidelines.
“Pennsylvania, you are so important. So, this Tuesday, use your voice, use your vote to make Kamala Harris our next president. Let’s do this,” she said.
“If you don’t vote for her or you don’t vote at all, you’re voting for the chaos and the hate, you’re voting for a cruel tomorrow for immigrants, people of color, women, our children and our planet.”
So many people showed up that there was an overflow room in the school auditorium, where Obama, Keys and Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke briefly — to the delight of Beth Miller, who came from Bucks County and waited in line for four hours.
“Even if we’re not in the main room, it’s really exciting and invigorating to be here. And the people that are here are so proud and so excited.”
Republican Donald Trump will be in Lititz on Sunday, and his running mate will be in Aston. First Lady Jill Biden is stumping for the Democratic ticket, with two stops in Montgomery County.