ATLANTA, GA — Vice President Kamala Harris fought back against a new barrage of GOP attack ads in a fiery Georgia rally on Tuesday, issuing a debate challenge to her Republican rival Donald Trump.
Speaking to a crowd of over 10,000 supporters, Harris touted her career as a California attorney general who prosecuted transnational gangs, drug cartels and human traffickers. She says she knows Trump’s type, accusing him of “tanking” this year’s bipartisan border bill.
“In that job, I walked underground tunnels between the United States and Mexico on that border with law enforcement officers,” Harris said. “I went after transnational gangs, drug cartels and human traffickers that came into our country illegally. I prosecuted them in case after case, and I won.”
“Donald Trump, on the other hand, has been talking a big game on securing the border, but he does not walk the walk. Or as my friend Quavo says, he does not ‘walk it like I talk it,’” Harris said, referring the Atlanta rapper, who endorsed her before the rally.
Harris’ remarks were her sharpest yet in her attacks on Trump, in front of her biggest crowd since announcing her candidacy. It also marked the biggest crowd for a Biden-Harris campaign event in this election cycle.
The Harris campaign on Tuesday previewed how it will be responding to Trump’s attacks falsely casting her as the administration’s “border czar” with a new 50-second campaign video.
“Kamala Harris supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents. Donald Trump blocked a bill to increase the number of Border Patrol agents,” a voiceover in the ad says.
“Kamala Harris prosecuted transnational gang members and got them sentenced to prison. Trump is trying to avoid being sentenced to prison,” it continues: “There’s two choices in this election: The one who will fix our broken immigration system and the one who is trying to stop her.”
The Trump campaign has put out ads, accusing Harris of being the administration’s “border czar” despite no evidence to support the claim.
“This is America’s border czar, and she’s failed us. Under Harris, over 10 million illegally here,” the new Trump ad says of Harris. The narrator finishes by saying: “Kamala Harris. Failed, weak, dangerously liberal.”
On Monday, Trump was asked by Fox News if he would debate Harris. He said he “probably” will debate but he “can also make a case for not doing it.”
“I want to do a debate. But I also can say this. Everybody knows who I am. And now people know who she is,” Trump said.
“The answer is yes, I’ll probably end up debating,” he added. “The answer is yes, but I can also make a case for not doing it.”
On Tuesday, Harris commented on that statement and issued a challenge to Trump in front of thousands.
“Well, Donald, I do hope you’ll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage,” Harris said. “Because as the saying goes, if you got something to say …say it to my face.”
