PHILADELPHIA (AP) 鈥 Kamala Harris told a Philadelphia church congregation that the United States is 鈥渄etermined to turn the page on hatred and division" as she began crisscrossing the Democratic stronghold Sunday.
Energizing supporters in the largest city in the swing state of Pennsylvania is crucial for Harris' campaign, and she's focusing on voters of color with a little more than a week to go before the Nov. 5 election.
In her remarks to the predominantly Black audience at the Church of Christian Compassion, Harris drew on the story of the Apostle Paul, who overcome difficulties to spread the word of Jesus.
鈥淚n hard times when we may grow weary in doing good, we must remember the power that works within us, the divine power that transformed Paul鈥檚 life, guided him through shipwreck and sustained him through trials," Harris said.
W. Lonnie Herndon, the church鈥檚 senior pastor, introduced Harris as 鈥渢he voice of the future鈥 and followed her remarks with a sermon about compassion and how "strong people never put others down, they lift them up.鈥
鈥淚n nine days we鈥檒l be able to do this,鈥 Herndon said as he made the motion of turning a page. 鈥淭urn the page,鈥 the congregation shouted in unison.
鈥淲e are going to get out and vote," he said as Harris listened from her seat in the front row. 鈥淎nd let me be crystal clear. We are not electing a pastor. We are electing a president that will deal with these divided United States, bring us back together.鈥
After church, Harris told reporters that "Philadelphia is a very important part of our path to victory."
鈥淚t鈥檚 the reason I have been sending time here," she said. "But I鈥檓 feeling very optimistic about the enthusiasm.鈥
Harris then went to Philly Cutz, a barbershop in West Philadelphia, where she spoke to Black men about improving racial representation in education. A poster of Barack Obama, the first Black president, was on the wall.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 pay teachers enough,鈥 said Harris, who would be the second Black president and the first female president, if elected. 鈥 is an issue.鈥
Outside the shop, people stood on stoops and lined the sidewalks in hopes of catching a glimpse of Harris. 鈥淭he MVP of the White House!鈥 someone shouted.
Harris visited Hakim鈥檚 Bookstore, which specializes in African American history.
鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful. It鈥檚 just so beautiful," she said and asked to see good books for 6- and 8-year-old children, .
Harris also joked about her weight with Ann Hughes, the mother of Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e working me to the bone,鈥 she said.
The next stop was a Puerto Rican restaurant named Freddy and Tony鈥檚, where Harris thanked volunteers and told them 鈥渨e are going to win.鈥
Harris has tried to keep the focus on abortion rights in the closing stretch of the campaign, including during appearances with and . In an interview with that aired Sunday, Harris declined to say whether she would support any restrictions on abortion, emphasizing the need to restore Roe v. Wade.
鈥淚t is that basic,鈥 Harris said.
The nationwide right to abortion was overturned two years ago by the conservative majority on the Supreme Court that included three justices nominated by while president.
鈥淢y first priority is to put back in place those protections and to stop this pain and to stop this injustice that is happening around our country,鈥 Harris said.
She also brushed off Trump's claim that he would not sign a national abortion ban if elected. 鈥淗e says everything, come on," Harris said. "Are we really taking his word for it?鈥
Harris and , the Minnesota governor who is her running mate, are expected to visit all seven battleground states in the coming days, part of a final blitz before the election.
While Harris was in Philadelphia on Sunday, her running mate was campaigning in Las Vegas. On Monday, Walz will visit Manitowoc and Waukesha, Wisconsin, before joining Harris for a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the singer Maggie Rogers is scheduled to perform.
Harris will be in the nation's capital on Tuesday to deliver what her campaign calls in a speech from the Ellipse, a grassy space near the White House. It's the same place where Trump spoke on Jan. 6, 2021, when the Republican called on his supporters to march on the Capitol.
Walz is scheduled to campaign Tuesday in Savannah and Columbus in Georgia.
Harris plans to visit North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin on Wednesday. The event in Madison, Wisconsin, is expected to feature musical performances by Mumford & Sons and others.
Walz will be in Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina, that day.
On Thursday, Harris will be in Nevada for rallies in Reno and Las Vegas, and in Phoenix. The band Man谩 will perform in Las Vegas and Los Tigres del Norte will perform in Phoenix.
Walz plans to campaign in Harrisburg and Erie, Pennsylvania, and Detroit.
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Megerian reported from Washington.
