Trump digs in on controversial comments as Harris courts disenchanted Republicans

With 20 days until Election Day, the battle is on to reach the few remaining voters who can still be persuaded. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held events Wednesday to try and broaden their appeal. For Harris, that meant an interview on Fox News for the first time. For Trump, it meant addressing recent comments that have stirred controversy and could alienate voters. Lisa Desjardins reports.

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Amna Nawaz: Welcome to the “News Hour.”

With just 20 days until Election Day, for both 2024 presidential candidates, the battle is on to find and reach the few remaining voters who can still be persuaded.

Geoff Bennett: Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump held events today to try to broaden their appeal.

Here’s Lisa Desjardins.

Lisa Desjardins: Former President Donald Trump digging in at a FOX town hall, repeating that other Americans are the enemy and making a declaration unprecedented in modern times, that he would use the military to quash dissent.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: It is the enemy from within, and they’re very dangerous. They’re Marxists and communists and fascists, and they’re sick.

Lisa Desjardins: Trump also on FOX made these comments Sunday:

Donald Trump: I think the bigger problem are the people from within. We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left lunatics. And I think they’re the — and it should be very easily handled by — if necessary, by National Guard or, if really necessary, by the military.

Lisa Desjardins: Those words, Vice President Harris has called unhinged.

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: Donald Trump is increasingly unstable. And as has been said by the people who have worked closely with him, even when he was president, he’s not fit to be president of the United States.

Lisa Desjardins: This as Trump was aiming to reach across the gender gap. That FOX town hall was in front of an all-woman audience, where Trump faced questions on reproductive rights, claiming to be pro-IVF, despite Republicans recently blocking IVF legislation at the U.S. Capitol.

Donald Trump: I’m the father of I — I’m the father of IVF.

Lisa Desjardins: On abortion, the man responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade said he now thinks some red states have gone too far with restrictions.

Donald Trump: They’re too tough, too tough. And those are going to be redone, because already there’s a movement in those states.

Lisa Desjardins: Mr. Trump faces a voting gender gap. Polls show men support the former president by 16 points, but women back his opponent by 14. Mr. Trump faces a voting gender gap polls show men support the former president by 16 points but women back his opponent by 14 points.

For Vice President Kamala Harris today, the hunt for votes meant reaching across the aisle.

Kamala Harris: No matter your party, no matter who you voted for last time, there is a place for you in this campaign.

Lisa Desjardins: In Pennsylvania, a nearly must-win for her, Harris appeared with nearly 100 Republicans who disavowed Donald Trump. Her message was for conservatives and others unhappy with the former president.

Kamala Harris: The coalition we have built has room for everyone who is ready to turn the page on the chaos and instability of Donald Trump.

Lisa Desjardins: With it came broader symbolism. The event was near the site where George Washington famously crossed the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War, the president who urged voters to choose country over politics.

Kamala Harris: To compose the Constitution of the United States, that work was not easy. The founders often disagreed, often quite passionately, but, in the end, the Constitution of the United States laid out the foundations of our democracy. And now the baton is in our hands.

Lisa Desjardins: The vice president’s courtship of those outside her party continues tonight, when she sits down for an interview with Bret Baier, her first interview on FOX News.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Vice Presidential Candidate: How are you?

Man: A pleasure meeting you.

Sen. J.D. Vance: Yes, good to meet you.

Lisa Desjardins: Just like Harris, today, Republican V.P. candidate J.D. Vance also stopped in Pennsylvania. The swing state will see all four candidates this week.

As he campaigned for 2024, Vance was asked about 2020 and why he has not admitted that Trump lost. He gave a new response, fueling the lie that Trump won.

Sen. J.D. Vance: I think there are serious problems in 2020. So did Donald Trump lose the election? Not by the words that I would use, OK?

Lisa Desjardins: And in another critical state, Georgia, the first day of early voting on Tuesday shattered records there with over 300,000 ballots cast.

State election officials say they expect another potential record today. In polling places, the enthusiasm was palpable.

Peg Timpone, Georgia Voter: I think this is probably the most important voting season of our lifetime. I think it was imperative that every single person vote to help save democracy.

Matthew Brown, Georgia Voter: I think this is an existential election. It’s going to have implications for my children and my three grandsons and more to come.

Lisa Desjardins: Also in Georgia, two court rulings yesterday blocked efforts by Republican officials to change the rules in the state. One ruling barred election officials from refusing to certify the results. And another said no to making the state count the final ballots by hand, pivotal decisions in a pivotal race.

For the PBS “News Hour,” I’m Lisa Desjardins.