On the eve of Kamala Harris’s final campaign swing through pivotal battleground states ahead of the 2024 presidential election, she delivered a significant speech near the White House. The location was carefully chosen; it was the same site where Donald Trump rallied his supporters on January 6, 2021, just hours before a violent insurrection at the Capitol aimed at overturning Joe Biden’s election victory.

On a pleasant October evening, Harris addressed a crowd her campaign estimated at around 70,000 enthusiastic supporters, a stark contrast to the events of that fateful January day. To underscore her message, she made clear reference to Trump early in her remarks. “We know who Donald Trump is,” she stated, recalling his role in inciting an armed mob to disrupt democracy.

Although Harris began with warnings about an “unstable” and “unhinged” Trump, she quickly shifted to present her vision for the future. Recognizing that many undecided voters might still be unfamiliar with her following a shortened presidential campaign, she highlighted key aspects of her background and personal journey.

Harris outlined several of her top policy initiatives, including efforts to make housing more affordable, enhance child tax credits, and expand homecare services for seniors under government health insurance. A significant portion of her address also focused on abortion rights, emphasizing the need for national legislation to safeguard these rights—a particularly resonant issue for Democratic voters.

This speech served as a condensed version of her earlier address at the Democratic National Convention meant to introduce herself to Americans. At that time, Democrats were buoyed by renewed enthusiasm for their nominee following a period of internal conflict that led Biden to step back from his re-election bid.

As her campaign approaches what appears to be a close finish next week, Harris is aware that winning over undecided voters remains crucial. The backdrop of her speech symbolized contrasts—division versus unity and bitterness versus hope—key themes she wants voters to consider as they head to the polls.

“I pledge to seek common ground and common sense solutions to make your lives better,” Harris declared. However, during her address, President Biden made comments regarding Trump supporters that might complicate her message and distract from her efforts.

Harris attempted to tackle concerns about issues like the economy and immigration during her speech too. Framing the election in terms advantageous to her campaign, she awaits next Tuesday’s results to see if enough voters resonate with her message in these critical states.