Kamala Harris Stands with Labor Unions, Criticizes Book Bans and Promises Change

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the American Federation of Teachers, advocating for labor unions and against school book bans. She outlined her campaign's focus on healthcare and workers' rights while drawing a stark contrast with her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. Harris' rise in the presidential race has energized the Democratic campaign.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to empower labor unions and prevent school book bans while addressing a powerful teachers' union on Thursday, seeking to draw a sharp contrast with her Republican rival Donald Trump. In a 20-minute address in Houston to the American Federation of Teachers, Harris, 59, focused on economic policy and workers' rights, touting plans for affordable healthcare and child care while criticizing Republicans for blocking gun limits in the wake of school shootings.

"Today we face a choice between two very different visions of our nation, one focused on the future and the other focused on the past, and we are fighting for the future," she said. "Donald Trump and his extreme allies want to take our nation back to failed trickle-down economic policies, back to union-busting, back to tax breaks for billionaires." Harris' visit to the AFT, which endorsed her, continues a blitz of campaign appearances since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid and urged Democrats to coalesce behind Harris.

"We want to ban assault weapons and they want to ban books," Harris said, referencing the push by some Republicans to remove books addressing gender and sexuality from school libraries. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution defends the right to bear arms. Harris' move to the top of the ticket has shaken up a stagnant presidential race. A series of opinion polls showed Harris and Trump starting their head-to-head contest on roughly equal footing, setting the stage for a close-fought campaign over the next four-and-a-half months until the November 5 election.

Trump, 78, on Wednesday night criticized Harris in his first rally since she replaced Biden atop the ticket, calling her a "radical left lunatic." Harris dominated the campaign trail with withering attacks on Trump, raising his felony convictions and liabilities for sexual abuse and fraudulent activities involving his business and university.

Former President Barack Obama has been in regular contact with Harris and plans to endorse her soon, a source familiar with his plans said on Thursday. Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, alongside dozens of other female lawmakers, endorsed Harris as well.

After attacking Biden for being old and feeble, Trump now faces a younger candidate in Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American vice president. Harris' campaign released its first video advertisement online, featuring her narrating the campaign's vision to Beyonce's song "Freedom."

The next highly anticipated development is Harris' choice of a vice-presidential candidate to counter Trump's pick of Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance. Contenders include Senators Mark Kelly and Governors Josh Shapiro, Roy Cooper, Andy Beshear, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The Democratic National Committee plans to formally nominate Harris by August 1, with Harris picking a running mate by August 7.

Harris' rise has pushed Trump out of headlines, a week after the Republican National Convention and days after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt. FBI Director Christopher Wray told a House panel that investigators are unclear if Trump's injury was by a bullet or shrapnel. Trump claims it was a bullet.

Trump campaign spokesperson Jason Miller dismissed the idea that Trump was not hit by a bullet as a "conspiracy," adding an expletive.

(With inputs from agencies.)