Harris slams Trump over military threat to 'enemy from within'

With early voting now open across most of the U.S., polls suggest a razor-thin national race, with Pennsylvania and other critical swing states locked in statistical dead heats. As the election enters its final phase, Kamala Harris has increasingly highlighted former President Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric, accusing him of using fascist language.

At a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania—a politically divided county—Harris showcased a video montage of Trump calling for the imprisonment of political rivals and labeling Americans as “the enemy within.” The video also featured a recent Fox News interview where Trump suggested that "radical left lunatics" could be dealt with "very easily" by the military in a future Trump administration.

Harris warned that if reelected, Trump would target groups he's previously attacked, including journalists, election officials, and judges who follow the law rather than his agenda. She emphasized that a second Trump term would be a grave threat to the nation, saying, “Donald Trump is increasingly unhinged, and he’s seeking unchecked power.”

While Trump has criticized Harris for her policies, background, and intelligence, she has worked to portray him as a risky candidate driven by fear rather than solutions. Trump, who frequently refers to his opponents as "scum," continues to boast about his close relationships with foreign dictators. His running mate, J.D. Vance, has also refused to acknowledge Trump’s 2020 defeat, aligning with Trump's ongoing claims of election fraud.

At 78, Trump is the oldest major-party presidential candidate in U.S. history. He has refused to release his medical or tax records, defying norms observed by candidates in previous elections. Nevertheless, Trump and Harris remain in a heated contest for swing states, with blue-collar Pennsylvania standing as a key battleground.

Despite Harris’ aggressive campaign, her support has stagnated at around 49 percent since mid-September. Aides are particularly concerned about declining support among Black voters, a critical Democratic base, which has dropped 15 points compared to Biden's backing in 2020.

A recent New York Times/Siena poll showed Harris with 78 percent support among Black voters, compared to the roughly 90 percent that Democrats have historically enjoyed in presidential races. Most of the decline has been attributed to Black men.

Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, who labeled Trump “fascist to his core,” are set to intensify their efforts in swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Harris will focus on engaging Black male voters, a demographic showing signs of slipping from the Democratic fold.

In Erie, Harris promoted her “opportunity agenda,” which includes small business loans, job training programs for Black men, and a healthcare initiative addressing diseases that disproportionately affect the African American community. She is also scheduled for a series of interviews with prominent Black media figures, including a town hall with Charlamagne Tha God in Detroit.

Meanwhile, Trump has gained ground with Black voters, achieving levels of support unseen for a Republican since Richard Nixon in 1960. At a town hall near Philadelphia, Trump pledged to reduce household energy bills and, when asked about tackling inflation, pivoted to his favorite topics—border security and his use of Hannibal Lecter references at rallies. He concluded by praising his campaign’s growing popularity with Black and Hispanic voters, boasting, “Our poll numbers have gone through the roof.”