KAMALA Harris suffered an unfortunate gaffe on Friday night, stumbling up the stairs in a move more akin to Joe Biden.
The vice president was climbing up onto the stage for her rally in Phoenix, Arizona, when her foot caught on one of the steps.
Kamala Harris was seen heading to the stage for her rally in Arizona on Friday night[/caption]
The recovery was more graceful than some Joe Biden’s tumbles[/caption]
The president has long been made fun of for the several falls he has taken walking up the stairs[/caption]
After a momentary jolt, she caught herself on the railing, narrowly avoiding a bigger fall in front of 15,000 spectators.
Seemingly unfazed, Harris continued to walk at a slower pace, pausing to wave at her supporters with a smile.
She then went on to greet her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who had introduced her to the stage.
The stumble was perhaps more graceful than some of Biden’s, which have been captured on staircases and stages over the years.
Biden, 81, narrowly avoided a fall while boarding his Air Force One earlier this year.
Just weeks later, he was seen stumbling on stage as he walked passed troops at the US Capitol.
Harris, 59, is now campaigning to replace him as president, joining her running mate Tim Walz on stage on Friday.
The Democrats’ rally coincided with Donald Trump’s in Montana, which was delayed due to an emergency landing the former president’s plane made after a mechanical failure.
Harris and Walz, meanwhile, were quickly interrupted on stage by pro-Palestine protesters.
Harris silenced the crowd and allowed the protesters to continue speaking their minds.
“Hold on a second,” she said.
“Let me just say this, on [the] topic of what I think I’m hearing over there.
“I have been clear, now is the time to get a ceasefire deal and get the hostage deal done.”
The presidential candidate said she and Biden are actively working “around the clock every day to get that cease-fire deal done and bring the hostages home.”
“I respect your voices, but we are here to now talk about this race in 2024,” she said, turning her attention towards the election.
Harris’s response on Friday differed from her reaction during the Detroit rally earlier in the week when she talked over Gaza protesters.
The vice president snapped at the protesters as they became unruly with their chants.
“If you want Donald Trump to win then say that,” said Harris.
“Otherwise, I’m speaking.”
The former prosecutor went on to boast about her record, citing the drugs and gangs she put away.
“I prosecuted them in case after case, and I won,” Harris said.
“So I know what I’m talking about.”
Kamala greeted the crowd of 15,000 after stumbling up the stairs[/caption]
She acknowledged a group of pro-Palestine protesters[/caption]
The vice president said she and Joe Biden are working on calling for a ceasefire[/caption]
Border security and immigration are often hot topics for those living in Arizona, a border state.
“We know our immigration system is broken and we know what it takes to fix it: comprehensive reform,” Harris said.
“That includes strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship.”
Harris’ comments about border security follow scrutiny from Republicans about her role as the “border czar.”
She was tasked to investigate the root cause of the migration issue by the Biden administration.
What's next as Kamala Harris picks running mate
Kamala Harris' presidential campaign is preparing for a whirlwind week after she officially named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate – just weeks after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
Here’s what’s next for the duo as they hit the campaign trail together:
Both Harris and Walz will appear for their first campaign rally together in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, August 6.
It will be the first of seven swing states Harris is expected to travel to over five days – five of which she and Biden flipped blue in 2020.
These states include:
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Georgia
- Arizona
- North Carolina
- Nevada
The stretch is set to be one of the heaviest weeks of campaign-related travel this election cycle.
After her week-long tour around the country, Harris and Walz will hit the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, from August 19 to 22.
It is here that Harris is expected to officially accept the party’s nomination and outline exactly where she and her running mate stand on a plethora of issues affecting the American people.
During her speech, Harris doubled down on her commitment to border safety.
She said she would “hire thousands more border agents and crack down on fentanyl and human trafficking”
She then turned her attention to GOP nominee Trump.
“Donald Trump does not want to fix this problem,” Harris said.
“Be clear about that: He has no interest or desire to actually fix the problem.
“He talks a big game about border security, but he does not walk the walk.”
She reminded her supporters that, despite the large turnout, they still have a long way to go.
“We are the underdog,” she said.
The president famously fell on stage at the 2023 United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony[/caption]
Kamala Harris' full statement on her VP pick
Kamala Harris confirmed her running mate in a text blast to supporters, then shared a lengthy post on Instagram explaining her decision.
“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @walzforgovernor to be my running mate,” Harris wrote in the Instagram post.
“One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle-class families run deep. It’s personal.
“He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, spending summers working on his family’s farm. His father died of cancer when he was 19, and his family relied on Social Security survivor benefit checks to make ends meet. At 17, he enlisted in the National Guard, serving for 24 years. He used his GI Bill benefits to go to college, and become a teacher. He served as both the football coach and the advisor of the Gay-Straight Alliance.
“I share this background both because it’s impressive in its own right, and because you see in no uncertain terms how it informs his record. He worked with Republicans to pass infrastructure investments. He cut taxes for working families. He passed a law to provide paid family and medical leave to Minnesotan families.
“He made Minnesota the first state in the country to pass a law providing constitutional abortion protections after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and as an avid hunter, he passed a bill requiring universal background checks for gun purchases.
“But what impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family: Gwen, Gus, and Hope. Doug and I look forward to working with him and Gwen to build an administration that reflects our shared values.
“Whether you are a supporter, a volunteer, a donor, a member of our staff, or your name is on the ticket: you are part of the people-powered campaign that is going to defeat Donald Trump.
“We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election.
“So let’s get to work. Join our campaign at the link in my bio.”
