Vice President Harris on Sunday denounced “cowardly” leaders who are focused on “defeating” others, in an apparent attempt to distinguish her own leadership approach from that of former President Trump.
“I think this campaign is about the recognition that, frankly, there’s been a kind of perversion that’s happened over the last few years to suggest that a leader’s strength is measured by who they beat.” Harris told supporters: Campaigning in Rochester, Pa. “We know that the true measure of a leader’s strength is who they support.”
“People who try to beat other people up are cowards,” she added.
While Harris did not directly name her main rival, Trump, her comments are in line with her campaign’s emphasis in recent weeks on strength, leadership and democracy to contrast herself with Trump.
The Hill has reached out to the Harris and Trump campaigns for further comment.
Trump, known for his disrespectful comments about political opponents, has hurled a series of insults at Harris, including calling her “useless” and questioning her racial identity. Republican lawmakers have since called for him to focus his comments on policy differences with Harris rather than personal attacks.
Trump’s lead in the presidential race has narrowed since Harris replaced Biden as the top candidate, and some political commentators say that’s because of Trump’s tendency to rely too heavily on insults.
She leads Trump by 1.8 percentage points, according to The Hill/Decision Desk national polling average, which tallys up 120 polls.
Harris’s remarks Sunday were part of a bus tour of western Pennsylvania for her and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who were greeted by supporters in Pittsburgh. She and Walz are due to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this week to accept the Democratic nomination.
