Jill Biden closes out campaign with her own push for Harris

In a heartfelt campaign push, First Lady Jill Biden addressed churchgoers in Spring House, Pennsylvania, on Sunday morning, urging them to recognize the power of their vote. Standing before a congregation that included supporters holding fans featuring Vice President Kamala Harris’s image, Biden emphasized, “One vote can win an election, and one election can set a new course. Will you be that person? Will you act now? Will you use your voice and decide our future? Will you vote?”

This church visit marked the beginning of a busy day for the First Lady as she campaigned in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state. With President Joe Biden largely absent from the campaign trail, Jill Biden has emerged as a key figure for Harris’s campaign. Over the past month, she has traveled to all seven battleground states, with plans to participate in nearly 30 events in the closing weeks leading up to the election.

During a canvass launch in Savannah, Georgia, Jill Biden spoke passionately to volunteers about the importance of this election. “We must meet this moment as if our democracy is on the line because it is,” she declared, urging them to rally support for a new generation of leaders.

This active campaign role contrasts sharply with what Jill Biden had envisioned earlier in the year. As a steadfast supporter of her husband, she had been actively engaged in his reelection bid, particularly after he faced challenges during a debate against Donald Trump. Despite significant pressure for President Biden to withdraw from the race, the First Lady expressed confidence in their decision, stating, “We’ve been in politics for over 50 years… it was the right call.”

Now, with her focus shifted to supporting Harris, Jill Biden’s messaging has remained consistent. She has voiced strong opposition to Donald Trump, asserting that his return to power would spell chaos and division. “Donald Trump wakes up every morning thinking about one person and one person only: himself,” she stated during a campaign stop in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

The First Lady has also highlighted the critical issue of abortion rights, pointing to Trump’s role in shaping the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, which led to the erosion of women’s reproductive freedoms. “Secrecy, shame, silence, danger, even death,” she said, reflecting on the grim realities faced by women prior to the Roe v. Wade decision. “That’s where Donald Trump has left women today — less safe and less free.”

The campaign has strategically utilized Jill Biden’s presence, sending her to smaller markets and engaging her personal interests. For instance, she recently led a canvass launch aimed at military families in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and reached out to fellow educators in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the importance of participation in this crucial election.

As she maintains her role as a full-time English professor, Jill Biden has also collaborated with other educators, including Minnesota’s first lady, Gwen Walz, at campaign events in states like Michigan and Wisconsin. “As a teacher, mom, and grandmother, the First Lady’s trusted voice is crucial to mobilizing the voters we need to win this election,” noted Harris-Walz campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez.

Jill Biden has formed a close bond with Kamala Harris, rooted in shared experiences, including the loss of their mothers to cancer. At a recent event, she poignantly recounted how she had lost her faith following the death of her son, Beau, from brain cancer in 2015. “Choosing who leads our communities is one way we can live out our faith,” she encouraged the churchgoers, urging them to turn their faith into action by voting.

As the election draws near, Jill Biden continues to emphasize the critical importance of every vote. “Even if it seems small, every single vote counts,” she concluded, reminding supporters that their participation can shape the future of their communities and the nation.