Harris in battleground Georgia dings Trump on debate, Project 2025
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
US Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 30, 2024. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage via Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris said former President Trump would roll back hard-fought progressive reforms on health care and climate during a rally in Atlanta Tuesday — her first appearance in the swing state since President Biden dropped out of the 2024 race.
Why it matters: The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee brought the state's top Democrats and Megan Thee Stallion, linked Trump to the Heritage Foundation-backed Project 2025 and called out his recent convictions and ongoing legal problems.
The big picture: Atlanta is the epicenter of Georgia's Democratic and progressive movements and key to mobilizing Black women voters in what's expected to be a close race. As of Tuesday, 98 days remain until Election Day.
Vibes: The diverse crowd — overwhelmingly young, women and a majority of people of color — danced, wobbled and did the wave to a soundtrack including Whitney Houston, Justin Timberlake and Kool and the Gang.
Zoom in: Harris told the Georgia State University Convocation Center audience the campaign "is about two very different visions for our nation: one focused on the future, the other focused on the past."
Viral moment: Harris again challenged Trump to a debate. "As the saying goes," she said. "If you got something to say, say it to my face."
The intrigue: Harris, who has faced scrutiny over her work on the Biden administration addressing the migrant crisis, told the crowd she'd revive a border security bill that Trump allies in the Senate spiked earlier this year.
Zoom out: Roughly 14,000 supporters signed up for tickets to the event, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Atlanta) told the "Politically Georgia" podcast.
- The crowd was Harris' largest since launching her presidential bid, campaign officials told the AJC.
State of play: Yvonne Marcus of Covington, an Atlanta suburb, told Axios Harris' entrance jolted the campaign back to life in Georgia, a state where Biden defeated Trump by 11,780 votes but now leaned in the GOP's favor.
Who's who: Former Georgia Minority House Leader Stacey Abrams, Mayor Andre Dickens and U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock warmed up the crowd, along with Williams.
- Prominent supporters in attendance included former Mayors Keisha Lance Bottoms and Kasim Reed, Martin Luther King Jr. III and rapper Quavo.
What they're saying: "Some days I feel for Republicans because they got to figure out how to run a criminal against a prosecutor," Warnock told the crowd. "Kamala Harris is getting ready to prosecute the case. The American people are the jury."
- "We're going to get the verdict right and we're going to send Kamala Harris back to the White House."
The other side: Trump and Vance will hold a joint rally at the same location on Sat., Aug. 3.