On November 1, 2024, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump engaged in simultaneous rallies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as they sought to galvanize support just days before the November 5 election. Milwaukee, being Wisconsin’s largest city, is a crucial area for Democrats, who aim to bolster their voter turnout, particularly within the city’s significant Black community. In the 2020 election, Biden secured 79% of the votes here.
During her rally, Harris criticized Trump, labeling him as unstable and power-hungry. “We know who Donald Trump is,” she declared. “This is not someone who is thinking about how to make your life better. This is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge. He is consumed with grievance, and the man is out for unchecked power.” Meanwhile, Trump, speaking less than ten miles away, countered by asserting, “You can’t lead America if you don’t love America, and you can’t be the president if you hate the American people.”
Harris aims to replicate and surpass the turnout from 2020 in Milwaukee. To engage the younger demographic, her rally featured performances from popular music artists, including GloRilla and Flo Milli. Harris has framed her campaign message around the notion that Americans are weary of Trump’s negative influence and are ready to move on. “We are done with it, we are exhausted with it, we are turning the page,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of compromise in a divided political landscape.
In contrast, Trump’s rhetoric at his rally took a nostalgic tone, as he reminisced about the excitement of the campaign trail. He refrained from discussing potential appointments for his administration, stating, “I don’t want to talk about any people. First, I want to win.” He reflected on past criticisms of his leadership style, suggesting that many would be eager to work with him, driven by the allure of being part of his administration.
Trump’s rallies have recently embraced a theme of nostalgia, with him expressing enthusiasm for reconnecting with supporters. Earlier that day, he had already energized crowds at a rally in Warren, Michigan, describing the campaign experience as thrilling. Harris’s campaign included stops at various locations throughout Wisconsin, including a union hall in Janesville and an event in Little Chute, before concluding with the Milwaukee rally.
As the election approaches, both candidates are focused on maximizing their outreach in a critical battleground state, with the outcome hinging on voter turnout in urban areas like Milwaukee as well as surrounding conservative suburbs. The contrasting styles and messages of Harris and Trump illustrate the deep divisions within American politics as they both aim to secure the presidency.
