Harris offers Americans a chance to turn the page on Trump era on election eve – without mentioning his name

In the final days leading up to the election, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a striking message to voters, presenting a vision for a new chapter in American politics, while noticeably omitting one key figure from her speeches: former President Donald Trump.

Throughout her campaign, Harris had frequently referenced Trump, but in her closing remarks, she refrained from mentioning him by name. Instead, she focused on the opportunity for voters to “turn the page” on the divisive politics that defined the Trump era. In speeches on Monday evening in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, she spoke directly to Americans’ desire for a break from the turmoil and fear that had dominated the past decade.

“We have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that has been driven by fear and division,” Harris declared. “We are done with that. We’re done. We’re exhausted with it.”

Her rhetoric marked a significant departure from the tone she had set earlier in the campaign. In past speeches, she had frequently invoked Trump, often criticizing his divisive approach to leadership. In fact, his campaign had compiled a video montage of Harris’s references to him, which was played at Trump rallies. But as the election drew near, Harris seemed to shift her focus away from the former president, offering instead a vision of a kinder, more compassionate America.

Standing in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, known for its “Rocky” steps, Harris highlighted her policy agenda, with a particular focus on expanding home healthcare for seniors, a key issue she championed. But beyond policy proposals, her speech focused heavily on the tone she hoped to set for the country. She stressed the need to overcome the negativity and distrust that had come to define American politics in recent years.

“America is ready for a fresh start,” Harris said. “Ready for a new way forward where we see our fellow Americans, not as an enemy, but as a neighbor.”

Harris’s call for a “new generation of leadership” resonated strongly with her supporters, who gathered in large numbers in battleground states. Her emphasis on unity, compassion, and collaboration was a central theme of her campaign, which aimed to offer voters an alternative to the divisive politics of the previous administration.

Earlier in the evening, at a rally in Pittsburgh, Harris spoke passionately about the damage done by years of division and rancor. “So much about these last several years has been about trying to make people point their fingers at each other,” she said. “To have Americans point their fingers at each other, to try and make people feel alone or feel small.” She continued, calling for a shift away from this toxic environment and promising a future where Americans would work together rather than against one another.

While President Joe Biden’s name was also notably absent from her speeches, the message was clear: Harris was framing this election as a choice between continuing the bitter politics of the past or embracing a new direction for the country. Her appeal was to voters who were tired of the partisan gridlock and the toxic political climate that had dominated under Trump.

Throughout the campaign, Harris repeatedly emphasized that the “promise of America” had led her to this moment, underscoring her commitment to issues like reproductive freedom and social justice. She spoke directly to women voters, particularly those who felt their rights were under threat, and encouraged them to vote for a future where their freedoms were protected.

Harris also expressed a broader sense of hope for the election outcome, pointing to Republican voters who had never supported a Democrat before but were now aligning with her vision. “I see it in Republicans who have never voted for a Democrat before, but who put the Constitution of the United States above party,” she said.

The final push of the campaign was marked by star-studded events, particularly in Pennsylvania, where Oprah Winfrey introduced Harris in Philadelphia. The rally featured performances by Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, and The Roots, and included appearances by prominent political figures like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. In her remarks, Winfrey warned of the stakes of the election, urging voters to show up at the polls or risk losing their voice in the future of the country.

“If we don’t show up tomorrow,” Winfrey said, “it is entirely possible that we will not have the opportunity to ever cast a ballot again.”

With the election just hours away, Kamala Harris’s closing remarks embodied the optimism and hope that her campaign had championed, offering voters the promise of a fresh start and a more compassionate political climate, while calling for unity and progress in a time of deep division.