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What the vice president said at the campaign stop

Umito November 1, 2024

Thousands of people filled the downtown Reno Events Center Thursday to hear Vice President Kamala Harris speak at her first rally in Northern Nevada since leading the Democratic ticket.

Harris took the stage at 5:30 p.m.

Nevada is considered a swing state and the race with former President Donald Trump is extremely close. The New York Times polling average puts Trump slightly ahead of Harris for the first time in Nevada since August.

Here is a recap of the rally.

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke for about 20 minutes to an enthusiastic crowd of about 6,000 supporters Thursday evening at the Reno Events Center.

“We have an opportunity with this election to turn the page on a decade where Donald Trump was trying to make us afraid of each other, but we’re done with that,” she said.

“It’s time for a new generation of leaders in America. »

Despite being interrupted by a handful of hecklers in the middle of his speech, Harris maintained an upbeat vibe, delivering lines that would generate cheers only to drown them out.

We didn’t know exactly what they were shouting. In response to the hecklers, some of the crowd chanted, “We love you, Kamala!”

Harris incorporated several policy proposals into her remarks.

“If you are caring for an elderly parent, my plan will cover the cost of home health care for seniors with Medicaid,” she said in one example.

The crowd stamped their feet often, creating a resounding rhythm throughout the arena.

Harris said former President Trump created a list of enemies to take revenge on for his first day in office.

“I have a to-do list,” she said.

“I will always put country above party. That’s what leaders do.

Come back to RGJ.com for more on Kamala Harris’ Reno rally.

Following Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto delivered a brief speech to the packed Kamala Harris rally, which reached about 6,000 people inside the Reno Events Center.

The capacity of the venue is estimated at 7,000 people. Areas are blocked off for media and security, but the venue appears crowded, especially on the floor surrounding the stage.

This election “is about the future where every Nevadan has the opportunity to succeed,” Cortez Masto said. “This is a future where women will have control over their bodies again.”

The senator urged everyone to get out and vote.

“We’re in this home stretch,” she said. “Are we going to knock on these doors? Are we going to drive the people around us crazy until they come out to vote?

Yes, the crowd said, waving signs before chanting, “We’re not going back!”

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve — who is a registered nonpartisan — warmed up the crowd Thursday at Kamala Harris’ rally, prompting both sides of the arena to try to outdo each other.

She has served as mayor for the past 12 years under three presidential administrations.

With the Trump administration, “we weren’t even invited to the White House,” she said. “How can you work with someone if you’re not even invited to the table?” What does that tell you?

“Let me tell you about Biden-Harris. I have a direct line – a direct line because they care about Reno, because they care about Washoe families.

Schieve said she met with Harris several times.

“We’ve had in-depth conversations about mental health, reproductive rights and small businesses,” the mayor said. “She understands.”

David Dawson made a last-minute decision last night to travel with his wife and two children from their home in Sacramento at 8 a.m. to attend the Reno rally. They had been waiting in line for about an hour before he headed to security.

“My kids, my 8 and 11 year old, had to abandon their Halloween plans,” Dawson said. “Which I think is a really important and mature thing to do. I had to let them know what they were witnessing.

Dawson is a longtime California Democrat who said he thought it was important for his children to attend the event.

“This is our last chance to see Kamala Harris before she is elected…to bring our daughter to see her, and our son, but especially our daughter. Because she’s older and understands better, and also because it’s very important for her to see the first female president,” Dawson said.

Also in line was Sya Smith, originally from Four Corners, New Mexico, but now lives in Fallon. She said Harris gained her support because of her positions on indigenous sovereignty and reproductive rights.

“I think (the campaign) is going well,” Smith said. “I noticed it was very close.”

That sentiment was echoed by Rod and Heidi Tayler, who traveled an hour from California to attend the rally.

“We hope we’ll be smiling in a week,” Rod Tayler said.

Although Tayler said he felt bad for Joe Biden when the president dropped out of the race, they were excited about the energy Harris brought to the closest presidential race in 60 years.

“Now it’s not two old men going against each other, but rather a really vibrant old man and young woman,” he said.

Raul Robinson, a UNR student studying communications, said he hadn’t planned to vote when Biden was running for president, but had already voted for Harris.

“I was filled with enthusiasm and felt the need to vote,” Robinson said.

Colby Thomas, who is part of Generation Z, also said he was excited to have a younger Democratic candidate.

“I think she represents a new generation,” Thomas said. “I think she understands us on a much better level. She is not on the older side. I think it has done well for our economy. She defends reproductive rights.

U.S. House candidate Kidd shows up at every rally, regardless of party.

Greg Kidd, a nonpartisan candidate running against Republican incumbent Mark Amodei for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, shook hands with campaign workers outside the venue before entering. He said he has attended every political rally in Northern Nevada this election season. This includes JD Vance’s visit to Reno last week and separate visits from Tim Walz and Donald Trump earlier this month.

When asked what Nevadans want from politicians in this election, based on his experience at these rallies, Kidd responded: “Most people just want to make sure that gridlock doesn’t prevent Not good things happening for Nevada. So that’s good for Nevada. They want this to happen.

The two leading presidential candidates are hitting the swing state of Nevada hard as Election Day approaches.

Kamala Harris is holding two rallies in Nevada today, one in Reno before heading to Las Vegas for what is being billed as a rally concert with Jennifer Lopez.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is speaking in Henderson this afternoon and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will be in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The candidates also make a stopover in Arizona, another swing state, during their visits to the West.

Wearing a shirt with “Love” in big letters, Judy Woodworth sat down for a quick blue, white and silver glitter makeup look at Kamala Harris’ rally in Reno on Thursday.

“I support everything she stands for: women’s rights are very important to me,” Woodworth said, explaining why she drove three hours to see the vice president.

When asked what she thought Harris’ chances of winning the tight presidential race were, “absolutely 100 percent,” she replied, smiling brightly.

Clinton Holeman wore a “Veterans for Harris” T-shirt to attend the vice president’s Halloween rally.

“She’s not a traitor, she’s not a seditionist,” he said, saying he considered Kamala Harris to be much better in the military and in defending the United States than Donald Trump .

“She believes in our Constitution, which I swore to defend and spent two tours in Vietnam doing just that.”

Holeman lives in Douglas County, where he said Republicans outnumber Democrats 3 or 4 to 1. So he thought it was important to show support for Harris.

“Besides, it’s my birthday,” he said. “We’re excited to be here.”

He added that Trump is even older than him and that he believes the former president is clearly showing signs of mental decline.

“He’s demented,” Holeman said, “maybe not completely, but he’s getting there.”

Nedra Benites came from Truckee Thursday to see Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time.

“I’m here to support our next president,” she said.

She wants to keep former President Donald Trump out of office, but she also got involved because she likes Harris’ policies.

“I believe in protecting the climate, protecting human rights and women’s rights, especially at this time,” Benites said. “All of his policies are far better than this other guy’s. And I just believe that she cares, she’s compassionate, she’s extremely intelligent, extremely energetic, and she works very hard for the American people.

She felt a lot of anxiety about the race appearing to be close, especially in Nevada.

“What the world could look like with another Trump presidency is, to me, horrible,” Benites said. “He’s a criminal in so many ways, and I can’t believe anyone would stand up for someone like him, much less want him to be their leader and the leader of the free world.”

What you can’t bring to Kamala Harris’ rally

All guests will go through an airport-style screening operated by the Secret Service. These things are prohibited:

Bags prohibited. Diaper bags and medical bags allowed.
No liquids, including empty or full water bottles.
No exterior posters.
No umbrellas
No vape pens or lighters.
No weapons.
No masks or costume weapons.

Where to Park for the Kamala Harris Reno Rally

If using rideshare, direct drivers to 500 N. Sierra St.
Limited parking is available for a fee at the National Bowling Stadium.
Free parking is available at 500 N. Sierra St. and 345 N. Virginia St.

Carly Sauvageau and Siobhan McAndrew contributed to this report.

Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Send your comments by email to [email protected] or comment on Mark’s Grand Reno Facebook Page.