By Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt and Gabriella Borter
RIPON, Wisconsin (Reuters) -Former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney stated former President Donald Trump is “not fit to lead” the U.S., as she campaigned with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent, on Thursday in Wisconsin.
Cheney and her father Dick Cheney, who was vp beneath George W. Bush, are staunch conservatives and two of essentially the most distinguished Republicans to have endorsed Harris in opposition to Trump.
Each have sharply criticized Trump, the Republican nominee, calling his refusal to just accept his 2020 election loss and his function within the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol disqualifying.
“I was a Republican even before Donald Trump started spray tanning,” Cheney joked, describing herself as a Ronald Reagan conservative. “I am proudly casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” she stated, her first vote ever for a Democrat.
Cheney described Trump’s actions on Jan. 6. as “depravity.” “He is petty, he is vindictive and he is cruel,” she stated.
The previous Home of Representatives member stated she and Harris might disagree on some issues however they’re certain collectively by their responsibility to the Structure. Harris will likely be a president “who will defend the rule of law,” Cheney stated.
Cheney’s feedback may assist Harris as she tries to court docket Republican and centrist voters forward of the Nov. 5 election.
To win what polls present to be a really tight race with Trump, Harris must win over Republicans and independents cautious of him with out alienating her base, significantly in states like Wisconsin that may swing towards Republican or Democrat and are more likely to resolve the election.
Harris has adopted a center-to-right-leaning stance on a number of points, together with her staunch help for Israel, a border coverage powerful on migrants and an all-of-the-above power technique to preserve gas prices low.
Kathy Rubino, 74, a retired nurse practitioner and an impartial on the Wisconsin occasion, stated she plans to vote for Harris and praised Cheney.
“She’s representing who she thinks is best for the country,” Rubino stated. “She stood up for what she believed, and that’s the important thing here.”
Current polling reveals Harris struggling to achieve traction with Republican voters regardless of getting the general public help of a whole bunch 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 the ballot’s Republican respondents stated they’d again her, a determine near the margin of error. Ten % stated they’d vote for an additional candidate, didn’t know who they’d vote for or wouldn’t vote.
At Thursday’s occasion, Harris praised Cheney – who opposed same-sex marriage and praised the Supreme Court docket’s repeal of the correct to abortion – for placing her nation above her celebration.
“There are many who know it’s wrong and then there are those who have the courage to speak out loudly about it,” Harris stated of Liz Cheney’s criticism of Trump.
Harris repeated her message from the Democratic Conference that she can be a president for all People no matter celebration, and in addition described Trump as unfit to carry the workplace.
The occasion was held in Ripon, Wisconsin at a one-room schoolhouse vital to the Republican celebration: it was the location of conferences that led to the celebration’s formation in 1854 and is known as the celebration’s birthplace.
Mary Anna Mancuso, a Republican strategist, stated Harris was operating “one of the most conservative platforms we’ve seen recently,” however stated she thought there was little threat that a lot of liberals would reject Harris due to it.
“Where else would they go? They’re not going to go and vote for Donald Trump,” she stated.
