Kamala Harris Philadelphia rally draws big crowds and celebs
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Supporters gather ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign rally in Philadelphia on Monday night. Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Thousands of people packed Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway to hear Vice President Kamala Harris give her final pitch to voters on Election Day eve.
Why it matters: Turnout in Philly is critical to Harris winning the swing state, and her rally could energize voters hours before the polls open.
- Follow Axios' live coverage featuring reporting and analysis from across the country.
The big picture: With the road to the White House running through Pennsylvania, both Harris and former President Trump spent much of Monday barnstorming the Keystone State.
- Harris visited Allentown and Pittsburgh before her final send-off in Philly. Trump stopped in Reading and Pittsburgh for some of his last rallies of the campaign.
Driving the news: Harris' Philadelphia rally was a star-studded affair, with performances from Lady Gaga, Will.i.am, Ricky Martin and The Roots, plus speeches from celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Fat Joe.
- Democrats Mayor Cherelle Parker, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also spoke at the event.
Zoom out: The Harris campaign held simultaneous Vote for Freedom rallies across the country, from Atlanta to Las Vegas and Milwaukee. Livestreams from the other cities were simulcast at the events.
Zoom in: Security was extremely tight around the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Eakins Oval, with road closures snarling traffic during the evening commute.
- Metal bike racks cordoned off the event, and garbage trucks were used as barriers at intersections.
- The U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration assisted in security efforts.
What they're saying: Attendee Maynard Garritty, 55, tells Axios he traveled from Seattle to canvas for Harris in Philly's suburbs in the final days before the election.
- "Pennsylvania is the Keystone State in terms of the election and so I want to do everything I could to bring people to the polls and get the job done," Garritty says.
- "We're on the brink of a history-making event and I feel this is the last rally to give it that push to the finish line," West Chester resident Kiran Koons, 50, tells Axios.
Ada Simbo, who traveled to the rally from Elkins Park, tells Axios she fears health care, reproductive rights, and civil rights are at stake in the election.
- "It's kind of a do-or-die thing for me," she says. "If we don't come out in numbers and really overwhelm the vote, our democracy's at risk."
Editor's note: This story has been updated to add details and photos from the event.