Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to participate in a CNN town hall in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, as her Republican opponent edges ahead in the polls in the must-win battleground state.
The 2024 presidential election is now less than two weeks away, and Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a dead heat race to win the White House. The town hall is another chance for Harris to speak to the electorate in the race’s final sprint.
What Time Is the Town Hall?
The town hall is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET and is expected to later be available to stream.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, at a campaign rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on October 17. Harris is scheduled to participate in a CNN town hall on Wednesday.
Andy Manis/Getty Images
Where Is the Town Hall?
Delaware County, which is just outside Philadelphia in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, has been chosen as the venue for the town hall.
Trump is narrowly leading Harris in Pennsylvania for the first time since July, according to the polling aggregator 538. Trump and Harris have made multiple appearances in the Keystone State as they seek to win supporters in the crucial battleground state. Pennsylvania is critical for the vice president as no Democrat has won the White House without it since 1948.
Where Will the Town Hall Air?
The town hall is set to air across four CNN networks: CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max.
The town hall is scheduled to stream live for paid TV subscribers through CNN.com and CNN’s TV and mobile apps, and on CNN Max for Max subscribers. It is set to be available on demand from October 24 to paid TV subscribers through CNN.com, CNN apps and cable operator platforms.
Why Does the Town Hall Matter?
The town hall comes at a critical moment for the Harris campaign. On Monday, 538 put the vice president ahead of Trump by 1.8 points nationally. Harris had 48.2 percent of support, while Trump had 46.4 percent.
Harris at a get-out-the-vote rally in Detroit on October 19. The vice president is set to participate in a CNN town hall ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Jen O’Malley Dillon, the Harris-Walz campaign chair, said in a statement: “Trump may want to hide from the voters, but Vice President Harris welcomes the opportunity to share her vision for a New Way Forward for the country.
“This will be a unique opportunity for voters to hear directly from the Vice President on her commitment to be a President for all Americans and her plans to lower families’ costs, protect our freedoms including reproductive freedom, and keep us safe and secure.”
CNN reported on October 11 that it had invited the Trump campaign to participate in a separate CNN town hall on October 23.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump and Harris campaigns for comment via email outside normal working hours.
Who Else Will Appear?
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is set to moderate the town hall. Cooper, who has worked for CNN since 2001, also works as a correspondent for 60 Minutes.
What Are the Issues to Look Out For?
Harris’ remarks will likely focus on local issues for Pennsylvania residents and the state of the race. Key issues likely to be discussed include the economy, immigration and reproductive rights.
The vice president is likely to level criticism at her opponent and to highlight the contrast between her agenda and the former president’s.
According to O’Malley Dillon’s statement, Harris will use the CNN town hall to “make the argument directly to Americans that Donald Trump will threaten the stability and security of hardworking families, and that a second Trump term is too big of a risk for our country.”
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