Vice President Kamala Harris isn't letting anyone forget about her strong debate performance against former President Trump in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Why it matters: During a rally Thursday in Charlotte, her first since the televised showdown, Harris attacked Trump for his more vulnerable moments on the national stage, especially around reproductive rights.
What they're saying: The Democratic nominee mocked Trump's debate answers: "He said 'concepts of a plan,'" she said while laughing, referring to Trump's response to a question about replacing the Affordable Care Act.
- As supporters jeered, Harris added, "Oh, you all watched the debate?"
- She reminded her crowd that Trump "refused" to answer whether he'd veto a national abortion ban — "Remember that?"
- "When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law," she said.
- Harris emphasized that Trump appointed the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Without calling him out by name, Harris said Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson was "hand-picked by Donald Trump" to run for governor.
- Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein's "opponent," she said, wants a "total ban on abortion."
- Robinson previously expressed support for a ban but pivoted in a recent ad, saying he stands by the state's current 12-week ban, with exceptions.
The big picture: Abortion rights is a major issue for the Democratic party, especially in North Carolina, which has long been a refuge to seek care until the state's cutoff was reduced last year from 20 to 12 weeks.
- Harris has now visited North Carolina, a key swing state , nine times this year.
- With less than 55 days until the election, Harris' back-to-back rallies Thursday in Charlotte and Greensboro kicked off a campaign tour of battleground states.
Zoom in: Throughout her speech, Harris reiterated many points she made on the debate stage and again tied Trump to the conservative Project 2025 playbook, which the Republican nominee has distanced himself from.
- She warned of a Trump with "no guardrails," after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have immunity for "official acts."
- The rally erupted when Harris said: "Somebody who'd suggest we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the seal of the president of the United States."
Flashback: Trump packed the same arena in July, with some fans wearing Trump wigs and his mugshot on their T-shirts. Many had traveled across the country to see him.
- Harris' turnout wasn't the same fanfare that had people waiting hours in droves, passing out in he parking lot from overheating . Still, it was a nearly full venue with high energy, HBCU Johnson C. Smith University's band and a performance by Charlotte native and singer Anthony Hamilton.
The intrigue: Harris earlier this week baited Trump during the debate, saying "people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom." In Charlotte, Harris was on the stage for about 25 minutes, compared to Trump's roughly 90 minutes in July.
- Harris' remark put Trump on the defense, a trend that continued for much of the debate.
- "Honestly, I loved every minute of it," Jeff Jackson, congressman and candidate for attorney general, said as he opened for Harris at the coliseum.
- Other speakers — including North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Stein — also, pridefully, asked the audience if they watched the debate.
- Democratic candidates who took the stage, like Senator and Lt. Gov candidate Rachel Hunt, encouraged people to go beyond voting: mobilize and door knock.
- Harris said her campaign is the "underdog" and it will take "hard work" to win.
What's next: Harris said at the rally voters are owed a second debate.
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