WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Vice President Kamala Harris made a pitch for Republican votes on Wednesday, with a stop in Bucks County.
The Democratic presidential nominee held a rally in Washington Crossing in the afternoon, speaking to a group of supporters that included disaffected Republican voters.
“We meet in a place that holds very special meaning for our country,” said Harris, recalling George Washington’s surprise attack on British troops from the area as pivotal in the creation of American democracy and the constitution. She argued that those are more important than political parties.
“I have sworn an oath to uphold the constitution six times and I have never wavered,” she said. “This is a profound difference between Donald Trump and me. He, who violated his oath to uphold the constitution and, make no mistake, if given the chance will violate it again.”
It was Harris’ second time campaigning in Pennsylvania this week, after a rally in Erie on Monday. She had support at the event from former Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who said policy differences pale in comparison to values, decency and fidelity to the nation.
“I’ve always admired strength and leadership and Trump is the opposite of that. He’s a whiny, weak, tiny man who is scared to death,” Kinzinger told the audience.
Though most of the small invited crowd were Democrats, several Republicans joined Harris onstage, including Kristina Lang and her husband, who live in Malvern. “We never in a million years thought we’d be standing here supporting a Democrat, but we’ve had enough,” Lang said.
Wednesday’s rally is the latest in her efforts to connect to various groups. She has promised to name a Republican to her cabinet and also says she wants a healthy two-party system.
On Tuesday, she did an interview in Detroit with radio personality Charlemagne tha God, as part of her outreach toward prospective Black male voters. The host took the opportunity to ask Harris about her marijuana policy.
“I will work on decriminalizing it, because I know exactly how those laws have been used to disproportionately impact certain populations, and specifically Black men,” she said, while also rejecting criticism that she is too scripted, calling it “discipline.”
Harris will appear on Fox News Channel Wednesday night, another effort to reach across the aisle to Republicans.
Both Harris and Donald Trump have focused their campaign efforts on Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, in the final weeks of the presidential race. Trump will return to the region on Sunday, to visit a Philadelphia McDonald’s.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.