National political correspondent Maggie Haberman suggested earlier this week that there would be “zero cost” for Vice President Harris to miss the annual Al Smith dinner.
“There's no cost to her in skipping this despite other complaints,” Haberman told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday night ahead of a dinner hosted by Catholic Charities of New York. I don't think so,” he said.
Harris chose not to attend the dinner in person, becoming the first major presidential candidate in decades to decline an invitation. Instead, she chose to continue circling the battleground state of Wisconsin as the election approached.
The vice president gave a video speech in which he accused his Republican rival, former President Trump, of election denialism and recent attacks on the city of Detroit.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan, the dinner's host, called the event a “layup” for the Democratic candidate and criticized Harris' absence.
“I'm sorry, but why isn't Vice President Harris here?” he asked.
“I mean, think about this: … This is a room full of New York City Catholics and Jews. This is a layup for the Democratic candidate,” he added at the time.
President Trump also criticized Harris' absence, calling it “extremely disrespectful.”
“My opponent feels he doesn't need to be here. This is very disrespectful to this event and especially to our great Catholic community,” he said.
Mr. Blitzer asked Mr. Haberman on Thursday what he expected from Mr. Trump at dinner. A veteran journalist who has covered the former president for years said Harris is likely to lean toward humor and attacks on her.
“For him to make all kinds of jokes at the expense of some of the people he was sitting in the same room with and say things similar to what he said on the campaign trail about Kamala Harris,” she said. said in an interview. , Highlighted by Mediaite. “But what I'm saying is, it's a very, very different room politically, but it's a pretty welcoming environment for Trump.”
“Ironically, that's where the elite people he always bashes are gathered,” she added.
Haberman also said the vice president's blitz in the “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, or “blue wall” states that President Trump won in 2016 but that President Biden recaptured in 2020, War was also considered. Former President Blitzer was asked if he was confident he could flip these states. Back, she wasn't so sure.
“I can't say I'm confident they can take it back,” she said. “They're very hopeful they can take it back.”
“But there are still 19 days until Election Day, and a lot can change,” she later added, calling Pennsylvania in particular “tough.”
Mr. Trump narrowly leads Ms. Harris in Wisconsin, 48.6% to 48.3%, and in Michigan, 48.6% to 48.2%, according to the Hill/Decision Desk Headquarters poll.
In Pennsylvania, seen as one of the most important states to win, the index shows Harris with a slight advantage over her Republican rival, 48.7% to 48.3%.
