On the Rocky Steps in Philadelphia, ‘We Will Win,’ Harris Tells America
PHILADELPHIA – There’s a Picasso in that building, more than one of them, in fact, and a Diego Rivera, too. More than one. The great Greek temple of art at the symbolic heart of America also back-dropped Rocky’s run up its stairs in celebration of the undying art of the underdog. And Kamala Harris tonight stood in front of the storied Art Museum here with a fighter’s spirit in a fighting town, trying to turn the vibrant palette of her own campaign into a hard-won Election Day masterpiece.
“Philadelphia, you ready to do this?” the presidential candidate asked the crowd. “It’s good to be back in the City of Brotherly Love, where the foundation of our democracy was forged and here at these famous steps, a tribute to those who start as the underdog and climb to victory. Just one more day in the most consequential election of our lifetime and the momentum is on our side.”
Harris reminded people to get out the vote tomorrow, Election Day, when polls open at 7 a.m. in this battleground state.
“We need everyone to vote in Pennsylvania, and you will decide the outcome of this election, Pennsylvania … and make no mistake, we will win.”
The crowd took up a chant: “We will win. We will win. We will win.”
“And we will win because when you know what you stand for you know what to fight for,” said Harris.
America, she said, is done with fear, Done with division. “We are exhausted with it,” she said. “We are… ready to see our fellow Americans not as enemies but as neighbors. The true measure of a leader is not who you beat down but who you lift up.”
“We are all in this together,” Harris vowed. “We are not going back.”
On the eve of Election Day in this essential city in a politically critical state, the Democratic nominee for
president appeared here on the Rocky stairs with many public allies, among them Oprah Winfrey. “We have the power to choose a leader who sees us,” Winfrey said. “What you can do for democracy here and John Lewis… what you can do for every pregnant young woman… is vote.”
Entertainers punctuated this evening along the Schuylkill River, among them Lady Gaga, Katy Perry,
New Jersey’s Jon Bon Jovi, will.i.am, and Ricky Martin. Governor Josh Shapiro warmed up the crowd, too.
“America, I am asking for your vote,” said Harris. “I pledge to you to seek common ground. I am not looking to score political points. I am looking for progress. I pledge to put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans. Philadelphia, we are here for many reasons but probably one of the most important reasons is we love our country and when you love something, you fight for it. …I thank you for your time, your effort, and the heart you are putting into this. …Are we ready to fight for it?”
The crowd roared, “Yes.”
“And when we fight,” Harris said, “we win.”
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