“Donald Trump spent a decade trying to keep the American people divided and afraid of each other. That’s who he is. But America, I’m here tonight to say: That’s not who we are,” Harris said. “America, we know what Donald Trump has in mind. More chaos. No more division. And policies that help those at the top and hurt everyone else. I propose a different path. And I ask for your vote. “

But even thinking about Trump, Harris’ challenge was to draw a contrast without ceding control of the conversation to the former president.

After Hillary Clinton’s defeat in 2016, some Democrats believed she focused too much on Trump in the final stretch of the campaign. And just days ago, Future Forward, a major super PAC supporting Harris, raised concerns that focusing on Trump’s character was not the most effective final message. Trump gave Democrats more fuel on Sunday with a gathering in New York which included speakers spewing racist and sexist attacks, including a comedian who called Puerto Rico “a floating island of trash”.

Trump’s campaign released a statement Sunday evening saying Puerto Rico’s comment did not reflect his or his campaign’s views. But Trump refused to apologize Tuesday, telling ABC that he did not know the comedian and had not heard the remarks, who have dominated campaign coverage over the past two days. In a preface Tuesday to Harris’ speech, Trump violated her policies as vice president while calling the New York rally an “absolute love fest.”

In making her case for their votes, Harris offered several commitments, including “to seek common ground and common-sense solutions to improve your life” and to listen to experts and people who disagree with her.

“In less than 90 days, either Donald Trump or I will be in the Oval Office. From day one, if elected, Donald Trump would enter office with a list of enemies,” Harris said. “Once elected, I will arrive with a list of things to do. Lots of priorities on what I will do for the American people.

Above all, Harris pledged “to be a president for all Americans, to always put country above party and above self.”

Supporters gathered on the Ellipse hours before the speech, which was expected to draw at least 20,000 people in a raucous rally atmosphere that spilled down Constitution Avenue to the National Mall. Vendors on the streets approaching the entrance sold T-shirts and Harris hats while attendees waved small American flags and American signs while singing while a DJ played music, including hip-hop and oldies like “Soul Train” and “YMCA” on a warm late October evening.

With music, signs. and luminous bracelets given to all participants, the event had the feel of a conference speech. But unlike her acceptance speech in Chicago this summer, Harris didn’t focus on her biography. Voters now knowing her better, she looked especially forward and not to the past.

“It’s time to stop pointing fingers. We need to stop pointing fingers and start shaking hands. It is time to turn the page on drama and conflict, fear and division,” she said. “It’s time for a new generation of leaders in America. And I am ready to provide that leadership as the next president of the United States. »

Amid the crowd, anti-Gaza war protesters attempted to disrupt Harris’ speech. But they were drowned out by chants of “Kamala” or “USA” as they were escorted out.

Harris campaign officials said the goal of the speech was to contrast what they called her “optimistic and hopeful message” with Trump’s strategy of “sowing division and hatred” in a neck-and-neck race in the polls until its end.

“We are working to do everything we can to reach voters who are still deciding and to make sure they hear directly from the vice president,” said Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, to reporters.

The decision to hold the speech at the Ellipse was no accident, she said.

“This is a place that we think certainly helps crystallize the choice in this election between a candidate seeking unchecked power in Donald Trump and another who actually offers real solutions to chart a new path forward. ” said O’Malley Dillon.

In her speech, Harris referenced the January 6 insurrection by accusing Trump of being “unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed by grievances and seeking unchecked power.”

“He says one of his highest priorities is freeing the violent extremists who attacked law enforcement officers on January 6,” Harris said. “Donald Trump intends to use the US military against US citizens who simply do not agree with him. The people he calls – I quote: “the enemy from within”. He’s not a presidential candidate thinking about how to improve his life.

After the speech, campaign officials said Harris was ready to hit all seven battleground states in the final stretch of the campaign, starting with stops in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin on Wednesday .

Jim Puzzanghera can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him @JimPuzzanghera.