Former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris mentioned the previous president donald trump is unfit to guide America, and urged voters to place nation earlier than occasion as they campaigned collectively Thursday.
Cheney and her father Dick Cheney, who was vice chairman beneath George W. Bush and remains to be vilified by Democrats for his enthusiastic advocacy of the Iraq Warfare, are staunch conservatives and two of essentially the most outstanding Republicans who’ve endorsed Harris. in opposition to Trump within the presidency. November 5 elections.
Each have harshly criticized Trump, the Republican candidate, calling his refusal to just accept his 2020 election loss and his function within the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol disqualifying.
“I used to be a Republican even earlier than Donald Trump began spray tanning,” Cheney joked on the occasion in Wisconsin, describing herself as a Ronald Reagan conservative. “I am proud to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” she mentioned, her first vote for a Democrat.
Cheney’s feedback may assist Harris as she makes an attempt to court docket Republican and centrist voters in what polls present as a decent race with Trump.
To win, Harris must win over Republicans and independents who mistrust him with out alienating his base, notably in states like Wisconsin, which can lean Republican or Democratic and are prone to resolve the election.
Cheney was the highest Republican on the Home committee that investigated the Jan. 6 riot, incomes Trump’s disdain and successfully exiling her from the occasion.
“Our republic faces a risk in contrast to any we’ve confronted earlier than,” Cheney mentioned, pointing to Trump’s efforts to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 election.
“What January 6 exhibits us,” Cheney mentioned, “is that there’s not a shred, not a shred, of compassion in Donald Trump. He’s petty, vindictive and merciless. And Donald Trump is just not match to guide this good and nice nation.”
On Wednesday, a decide opened a 165-page court docket submitting outlining federal prosecutors’ case in opposition to Trump over his try and overturn his 2020 election loss. Trump has pleaded not responsible to fees of conspiracy and obstruction.
Cheney mentioned she and Harris could disagree on some issues, however they’re united by their obligation to the Structure. Harris will likely be a president “who will defend the rule of regulation,” Cheney mentioned.
“She’s working to unite affordable individuals from throughout the political spectrum,” he mentioned. “I’m honored to affix her on this pressing trigger.”
Harris has taken a center-right stance on a number of points, together with her sturdy help for Israel, a tricky border coverage on immigrants and an all-of-the-above power technique to preserve gasoline prices down.
Kathy Rubino, 74, a retired nurse practitioner and impartial on the Wisconsin occasion, mentioned she plans to vote for Harris and praised Cheney.
“She represents who she believes is finest for the nation,” Rubino mentioned. “She stood up for what she believed in and that is what’s vital right here.”
Current polls present Harris struggling to achieve traction amongst Republican voters regardless of garnering public help from lots of of former and present Republican officers within the navy, nationwide safety and native governments.
Whereas Harris led Trump 47% to 40% amongst all voters in a Sept. 20-23 Reuters/Ipsos ballot, solely 5% of Republican respondents mentioned they’d again her, near the margin. of error. Ten p.c mentioned they’d vote for an additional candidate, they didn’t know who they’d vote for or wouldn’t vote for.
At Thursday’s occasion, Harris praised Cheney, who opposed same-sex marriage and praised the Supreme Courtroom’s repeal of abortion rights, for placing her nation earlier than her occasion and referred to as the endorsement as a “deep honor.”
“There are a lot of who know it is fallacious after which there are those that have the braveness to talk out loud about it,” Harris mentioned of Cheney’s criticism of Trump.
Harris repeated her message from the Democratic Conference that she can be a president for all People no matter occasion, and in addition described Trump as unfit to carry workplace.
The occasion was held in Ripon, Wisconsin, in a one-room schoolhouse vital to the Republican Get together: it was the location of conferences that led to the formation of the occasion in 1854 and is named the birthplace of the occasion.