‘A choice between freedom and chaos’

Vice President Kamala Harris waves before boarding Air Force Two as she departs on campaign travel to Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Vice President Kamala Harris waves before boarding Air Force Two as she departs on campaign travel to Milwaukee on Tuesday. ap/Kevin Mohatt

Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she boards Air Force Two following a campaign event, in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt/Pool via AP)

Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she boards Air Force Two following a campaign event, in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt/Pool via AP) Kevin Mohatt

Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for President as the presumptive Democratic candidate during an event at West Allis Central High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for President as the presumptive Democratic candidate during an event at West Allis Central High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf) Kayla Wolf

Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for President as the presumptive Democratic candidate during an event at West Allis Central High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for President as the presumptive Democratic candidate during an event at West Allis Central High School, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf) Kayla Wolf

Supports hold up signs in support of Vice President Kamala Harris as she campaigns for President as the presumptive Democratic candidate during an event at West Allis Central High School on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Supports hold up signs in support of Vice President Kamala Harris as she campaigns for President as the presumptive Democratic candidate during an event at West Allis Central High School on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf) Kayla Wolf

Vice President Kamala Harris poses for a selfie with Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., as she arrives in Milwaukee, Wisc., Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt/Pool via AP)

Vice President Kamala Harris poses for a selfie with Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., as she arrives in Milwaukee, Wisc., Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt/Pool via AP) Kevin Mohatt

By CHRIS MEGERIAN, JOSH BOAK and ZEKE MILLER

Associated Press

Published: 07-23-2024 8:29 PM

WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin — A roaring crowd of battleground state voters greeted Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday as she opened her Democratic political case against Republican former President Donald Trump.

In the November election, she said, “it’s a choice between freedom and chaos.”

“In this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week,” Harris said. “We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead.”

Harris arrived in the Milwaukee area having locked up nomination support from Democratic delegates after President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid on Sunday. It was her first campaign rally since she launched her campaign just two days ago with Biden’s endorsement.

The event reflected a vibrancy that had been lacking among Democrats in recent weeks, adding to the evidence along with $100 million in donations since Sunday afternoon, that Harris looks to project a sense of steady confidence about the November election. The vice president has also scored the backing of Democratic officials and political groups, including congressional leaders Charles Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.

By stopping in Wisconsin, Harris was going to one of the “blue wall” states along with Michigan and Pennsylvania that Democrats see as essential for securing a presidential victory.

The visit comes a week after the Republican National Convention wrapped up in the city and as Harris works to sharpen her message against the GOP nominee with just over 100 days until Election Day.

Harris’ trip to the state was a sharp contrast to Biden’s July 6 visit when he was trying to reassure Democrats who were wary after his troubling performance in the June 27 debate against Donald Trump. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection this year, skipped the Biden event, but she spoke before Harris on Tuesday.

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Harris is leaning into her resume as a former district attorney and California attorney general, seeking to draw a contrast with Trump who is the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes.

“She’s prepared to meet this moment because she was professionally trained to prosecute a criminal, and unfortunately that’s who the Republicans have put forward,” said Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif.

Harris strode onto the stage Tuesday to the anthem “Freedom” from Beyonce’s “Lemonade” album. She opened by contrasting herself with Trump.

“I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type,” she said.

Harris also cast her campaign as “people first,” again aiming to draw a contrast with Trump who she said represented special interests and corporations.

She also portrayed her rival’s policies as being antiquated and backward looking. “We are not going back,” she said. “And I’ll tell you why we are not going back. Ours is a fight for the future.”

That echoed Barack Obama who frequently deployed the refrain during his 2012 reelection fight to argue against Republican ideas.

Harris’ swift ascent over the past few days has required her to vet possible running mates, a process being led by Eric Holder, who was attorney general during Barack Obama’s presidency. But her key impact so far has been galvanizing Democrats.

Before the Tuesday speech, Diane Walter, 68, of South Milwaukee, said she’s thrilled that Harris is the candidate.

“I’ve been a Democrat my whole life,” Walter said. “She’s energizing the party again.”