Kamala Harris to Skip Al Smith Dinner for Battleground Campaigning

Vice President Kamala Harris will not attend this year's Al Smith charity dinner in New York. Instead, she will focus on campaigning in a battleground state. The dinner has historically been a venue for fostering good-natured dialogue among presidential candidates.

Vice President Kamala Harris will skip this year's Al Smith charity dinner in New York, opting to campaign in a battleground state less than three weeks before Election Day. Her decision breaks a longstanding presidential tradition of attending the event, which benefits Catholic Charities and promotes collegiality among political rivals.

According to a campaign official speaking on condition of anonymity, Harris' team aims to maximize her presence in states critical to the election outcome. They assured organizers that Harris would consider attending future events if elected president. The decision was first reported by CNN.

The annual fundraiser, set for October 17, has historically seen both Republican and Democratic candidates exchanging light-hearted remarks. Donald Trump's campaign has not yet confirmed his attendance for this year's white-tie gala. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a key figure in the dinner, has been vocal in his criticism of Democrats, adding another layer of complexity to the event's traditional bipartisan camaraderie.

(With inputs from agencies.)