US election updates: Trump backs false claims of voter fraud as J-Lo joins Harris on stage

Anthony Zurcher
correspondent for North America

The biggest message from Kamala Harris’ speech may have been the venue — the same location where Donald Trump held the rally on January 6, 2021, shortly before his supporters stormed the US Capitol.

The images from Tuesday night, contrasted with that cold winter day nearly four years earlier, provided the subtext of the entire speech and the pointed form that Harris was able to pivot toward her vision for what she called a different kind of future.

It was actually a watered-down version of her speech at the Democratic National Convention in late August — complete with biographical details, policy proposals and repeated jabs at her opponent.

Democrats at their convention in August were on a high at the time, excited about their new nominee after weeks of discouragement and infighting that led to Biden’s decision to abandon his re-election bid.

Since then, Harris’ campaign has had its ups and downs, and is now locked in what is shaping up to be a photo finish at the polls next week.

In her speech, she acknowledged that many undecided American voters are “getting to know her” after her shortened presidential campaign — which should be a cause for concern for Democrats given the way Election Day is shaping up.

However, market speeches are Harris’ forte. And Tuesday night’s speech likely hit the key points her campaign has been making in recent days.