Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and California House Representative Barbara Lee headlined the first Phoenix-area weekend canvas event for Kamala Harris as the official Presidential Nominee of the Democratic Party.
The event took place at the Harris for President Campaign headquarters at Indian School and Arizona State Route 51.
One of the Canvas organizers, a Legislative District Five member named Adri, whose father had been inspired by Barack Obama, movingly spoke first about how the Harris for President Campaign had restored her sense of hope, saying:
“When I saw Harris hit the ground running with her campaign, I felt something I had felt since 2008. Hope was back. Yes, but hope is not guaranteed to win and that’s why each and every one of us is here in this room ready to take back our country one door, one person, one vote at a time.”
Congresswoman Lee spoke next and spoke about how the Presidential Candidacy of Shirley Chisolm had brought her into politics. Before that, she thanked the canvassers that had gathered, telling them:
“Because of you, we’re going to win this campaign, we’re gonna win and she will be the next president of the United States. Do you know why? It’s gonna be because it’s gonna be because this is a people power campaign and what you are doing is the reason she’s going to win…Because this is your voice and your work and a people’s powered people-centered campaign is what Democracy is all about…”
She then touted the career and attributes of Vice President Harris while also reminding the people what is at stake in this election, stating:
“I’ve known her over three decades and I want to just say a couple of things about her first of all. She’s prepared. She’s ready She’s experienced. She’s smart. She’s a unifier. You see how she unified this party quickly because she cares about people. She sees people. She wants everyone to have a seat at the table when you talk about reproductive Freedom. My goodness. Look at what’s taking place throughout the country. Our rights are being taken away… Not only our Reproductive Rights. Our right to make our own decisions about our own body. But they’re (also) trying to take away our voting rights, environmental rights, right to organize labor unions just fights in general. So our Democracy is at risk. And she (Kamala Harris) understands what that means and she is a fighter. She knows exactly what to do with this Donald Trump. She’s she was a prosecutor here. We have a convicted felon. I mean how good can it get and so this is important because our health care, housing the cost of living, you know, all of the issues that we all care so much about it. So Arizona you you all are going to take it over the hill for us. You’re going to help us win this race. All eyes are on to Arizona and that means all eyes are on you…”
She closed by getting the audience to chant with her “When we fight, we win.”
Phoenix Mayor Gallego spoke next and told the people, many of whom knew her, that:
“This is a historic canvas. This will be our first weekend where Vice President Harris is officially the Democratic nominee. Incredible job talking about the momentum and how excited we are so many of us in the room are coming out because we have a chance to help make history. And it could not be a more important part of the reason…is because the path to the White House goes through Phoenix. We were the closest state in the entire country… The people you are talking to today could be the margin of victory.”
On the momentum of the Harris Campaign and the record of the Biden/Harris Administration, she said:
“The momentum has been incredible. Thousands of people signed up just in Arizona. right after Vice President Harris stepped up to her new role… All 91 delegates from Arizona have already pledged to vote for Vice President Harris…Within 48 hours, there were 60 elected officials who stepped up to endorse her this week. We announced a lot of Mayors who are endorsing including a very impressive amount of border mayors who know what she will bring to the Border. We also announced the endorsement of Mesa Mayor John Giles, one of the top Republican Mayors in the entire country, who knows that Vice President Harris has delivered for this country.”
“This week we’ll celebrate the anniversary of the CHIPS and Science Act and the administration will be here to invest in good American (manufacturing) jobs. They’re stepping up to fight for people to help us address costs and bring down the price. Of insulin, they stood up on prescription drug costs. Delivered and I mean… the record is incredible and I want to four more years of it.”
It was at that moment of Mayor Gallego saying four more years that a woman in the front row said “eight” reminding everyone that Harris could, if reelected to the Presidency could serve for eight. The Mayor happily agreed with that correction.
Noting that several non-election-denying Republican officials lost their primaries this week, Ms. Gallego stressed the importance of the canvassers in reaching every Democratic-leaning and Independent voter in the community, saying:
“So Democracy is on the ballot…So what you’re doing matters to the history of our country and your time helps us have a better country...There are a lot of people who have not paid attention yet (to the election.) And so your job today is to give them some of that excitement. Tell them why it matters to you what happens in this election, and hopefully, we really can once again be the margin of victory.”
After the opening speeches, Congresswoman Lee graciously responded to questions about the campaign from myself and a journalist for Fox News.
On the Harris Campaign Hiring former Obama Campaign Veterans like Stephanie Cutter and David Plouffe, she responded:
“First, let me just say, that was a winning campaign…Because our volunteers and our staff and the voters are going to make sure it’s a winning campaign. And what is happening in this campaign is the Vice President is unifying everyone from all of our campaigns so that we can win. And so Arizona is key to that as the Mayor (Gallego) said. The path to victory runs through Phoenix and I want to thank everyone for the energy and the excitement and really understanding that this is about our freedoms and moving forward with the vision rather than moving backward.”
On whether all the people the Vice President is considering as her running mate are prepared to be President if the need arises on day one?
“They all are qualified. That’s part of the criteria for being a Vice President.”
On Mr. Trump’s performance at the National Association of Black Journalists? (That question was from the Fox Journalist)
“Disgusting! Showing who he really is. And I believe it backfired on him.”
On the strength of the Harris ground game compared to the Trump one?
“This is a people-powered campaign. And that’s what’s important. She values the the grassroots movements that have been developed and the excitement and the unification of people from all different backgrounds to come together to get the vote out for her and I don’t think you’ll see that in with her opponent.”
Later on social media, the Harris for Arizona Campaign posted this on social media:
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