I'm Jeff Mason, and this is the fifth presidential campaign I've covered, and perhaps the most unusual.
For most of the 3-1/2 years she has been vice president, Harris would introduce Biden at political events and then step aside. Not anymore.
On Monday, Labor Day, the two leaders – one elderly and about to retire from public life, the other the new face of the Democratic Party – appeared together at a campaign rally for the first time since she ascended to the top of the ticket. Biden introduced Harris, then stepped aside.
It was another milestone for the Democratic presidential nominee, whose campaign is trying to balance continuing Biden's policies with fresh fundraising, energy and new ideas.
She pulled away from Biden on Wednesday, too, slashing his capital gains tax proposal. Deep into preparing for her debate with Trump in Philadelphia next week, she is seeking to get under the former president's skin, hoping for a sharp contrast with Biden's floundering performance on June 27.
She echoed Biden's call for U.S. Steel to remain in American hands this week, however, in the company's hometown of Pittsburgh, an idea with strong union support. Biden is expected to block a deal by Japan's Nippon Steel to acquire the company, a view shared by Trump. Hear that, Pennsylvania voters?
Trump's closely watched economic speech on Thursday will highlight cutting government spending and regulation, adopting an Elon Musk plan and following on earlier proposals to rescind clean energy rules.The man famous for not lingering over briefing books when he was in office showed an unusual amount of discipline at the June debate with Biden; advisers want him to refrain from personal attacks against Harris on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are pushing ahead with their case against Trump for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. That issue might just come up at the debate, too.
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