Harris criticizes GOP production as she and Trump chase votes in final weekend of campaign

ATLANTA — Kamala Harris on Saturday criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for suggesting Republicans might cut government subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing as she and Republican Donald Trump over the weekend launched an effort to gather every possible vote in battleground states that will determine the next president. .

“This is my plan and intention to continue to invest in American manufacturing,” the Democratic nominee told reporters in Milwaukee, adding that Trump has lost manufacturing jobs during his presidency.

Harris spoke before heading to campaign rallies in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina. After the overnight rally in Milwaukee, Trump attended two rallies in North Carolina and one in Salem, Virginia, a non-battleground state.

“We stand on the cusp of four of the greatest years in American history,” Trump said in comments released by his campaign ahead of his first event in Gastonia, North Carolina.

President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race this summer when it became clear he couldn’t win, contributed to the Democratic cause with his final 2024 campaign stop in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Harris’ campaign has released its final commercial for the American people, a two-minute spot that will air Sunday during NFL games televised by CBS and FOX, including the Green Bay Packers game against the Detroit Lions. The ad shows some of Harris’ interactions with people on the campaign trail, as she looks directly into the camera and addresses voters.

“Now I ask for your vote, because as president, I will stand up every day and fight for the American people,” she says at the end.

Campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon expressed confidence during a conference call with reporters Saturday as both sides entered the final sprint to secure the vote. “If you hear the joy in my voice, it’s because it’s GOTV weekend,” she said.

Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, later retracted his comments about cutting subsidies for semiconductors, saying he meant only that Republicans would “simplify” the bipartisan Chips and Science Act. But Harris said Johnson only made the subsequent statement because “their program is not popular.”

The legislation pumped billions of dollars into computer chip production in the United States, supporting union jobs in battleground states such as Michigan.

Vice presidential candidates and prominent supporters were also in force.

Harris’ running mate Tim Walz and actress Eva Longoria joined a voting event in Las Vegas before the Minnesota governor flew to Arizona for events in Flagstaff and Tucson. Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance was scheduled to attend events with Donald Trump Jr. in Las Vegas and Scottsdale, Arizona. First lady Jill Biden campaigned in Georgia, while Hillary Clinton appeared in Tampa, Florida, to support Harris’ candidacy.

Trump and Harris’ planes parked next to each other overnight at the Milwaukee airport, and the candidates spent the night in hotels just three blocks away from each other. Even before Harris left Milwaukee, there was a line of supporters at her rally in Atlanta.

Marcella and Darrell Pittman, who learned about the rally in Atlanta on Friday, canceled their weekend plans and drove four hours from Alabama to attend.

Marcella thinks Harris will win, but Darrell is nervous because many of the young black men in his life support Trump and are hesitant to vote for a woman for president.

“It’s complicated, and on the other hand, a lot of our people believe in this side, just like we believe in Kamala,” he said.

Before the election, “we have nothing but votes, and we’re talking to everyone,” Marcella Pittman said.

“There’s so much at stake” and “there’s no way we’re going to let this slip away,” Darrell Pittman said.

Carol Hicks, who drives around with a stack of Harris signs in her backseat, said she was optimistic because she has “staunch Republican colleagues” who voted for Harris because they couldn’t bear voting for Trump. Some people in her life are undecided because they don’t want to vote for a woman, but she tells them, “Only weak men can’t stand a strong woman.

Trump supporters were equally passionate about their candidate.

Nick Chacour, a 68-year-old retired police officer from Center Line, Michigan, who attended Friday night’s rally in nearby Warren, said he was cautiously optimistic about Trump’s chances but said it depended on voter turnout.

“Like sports, you have to keep going until the whistle stops,” he said.

Stephanie Tanzini, 77, attended the same rally wearing a bright denim American flag baseball cap.

Tanzini said she plans to stay up “24/7” waiting for the results on election night – enjoying chips, dip and pies as the results come in – with a bowl of marshmallows on hand to celebrate.

“Because Trump is going to win in a landslide,” she said.