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Jimmy William
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail together on Labor Day, making a strong case for their administration’s pro-labor record during a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The duo emphasized their ongoing commitment to workers, framing Harris as the candidate who would continue to uplift labor if elected to the White House.
The Labor Day appearance in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania came as the political season traditionally ramps up heading into the fall. However, former President Donald Trump made a surprising departure from tradition, skipping the campaign trail on both Sunday and Monday. His campaign has stops planned for later in the week, including a town hall in Pennsylvania and a visit to the Economic Club of New York. Trump’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on his Labor Day absence.
In an unusual move, Biden spoke before Harris at the rally, signaling a shift in focus to give Harris more space to connect with voters. Biden praised Harris, calling her “a spine like a ramrod” with “the morals of a saint,” while promising to support her “from the sidelines” as she takes center stage in the fight to retain Democratic power. The crowd in Pittsburgh responded with chants of “thank you, Joe” as Biden began his speech.
Harris energized the union-heavy crowd, reminding them of the gains workers have achieved through the labor movement, such as the five-day workweek, sick leave, and paid family leave. As some attendees chanted for Trump’s imprisonment, Harris quickly deflected, saying, “The courts will handle that, and we’ll handle November,” keeping the focus on the election ahead.
The vice president also urged Pennsylvanians to vote early, highlighting that early voting in the state starts as soon as Sept. 16. She downplayed recent polling that shows her pulling ahead of Trump, cautioning that the race will likely remain tight until Election Day. “Let’s not pay too much attention to those polls,” Harris said. “We know this is going to be a tight race until the very end.”
Biden, known for championing himself as the most pro-union president in modern history, spent part of his speech highlighting his administration’s achievements for workers. He repeated one of his signature lines: “Wall Street didn’t build America; unions built America and unions built the middle class.” He reminded the crowd of his historic appearance on the picket line and highlighted the $17 billion in infrastructure investments Pennsylvania has received under his leadership.
Biden also took a jab at Trump, criticizing the former president for failing to deliver on his promises to advance infrastructure during his term. “He didn’t build a damn thing — nothing!” Biden said.
The president ended his speech by reinforcing his belief in Harris’ leadership on labor issues, saying: “I’ll be on the sidelines. But I’ll do everything I can to help.”
While Biden and Harris were rallying workers in Pittsburgh, the absence of Trump on the campaign trail created speculation about his strategy as the 2024 election cycle intensifies. Recent polls suggest that Harris has gained ground since Biden stepped aside, giving her a slight edge over Trump, though the race remains within the margin of error.
