Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will both centre their attention on Texas, with the Democratic presidential nominee set to campaign alongside Beyoncé and shine a light on the consequence of abortion restrictions.
Harris is teaming up with the superstar for a rally in the solidly Republican state, but the message was intended to register in the political battlegrounds, where she is hoping that the after-effects from the fall of Roe v. Wade will spur voters to turn out to support her quest for the presidency.
“Sadly, the elected leaders of Texas have made Texas ground zero in this fundamental fight for the freedom of women to make decisions about their own bodies,” Harris said on Friday.
She will also be joined at the rally by women who have nearly died from sepsis and other pregnancy complications because they were unable to get proper medical care, including women who never intended to end their pregnancies.
Some of them have already been out campaigning for Harris and others have told their harrowing tales in campaign ads that seek to show how the issue has ballooned into something far bigger than the right to end an unwanted pregnancy.
Since abortion was restricted in Texas, the state’s infant death rate has increased, more babies have died of birth defects and maternal mortality has risen.
With the presidential election in a dead heat, Harris is banking on abortion rights as a major driver for voters — including for Republican women, particularly since Trump appointed three of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the constitutional right.
He has been inconsistent about how he would approach the issue if voters return him to the White House.
Harris’ campaign has taken on Beyonce’s 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, and the message dovetails with the vice president’s emphasis on reproductive freedom.
The singer’s planned appearance on Friday adds a high level of star power to Harris’ visit to the state.
She will be the latest celebrity to appear with or on behalf of Harris, including Lizzo, James Taylor, Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Eminem.
While in Texas, Harris also will tape a podcast with host Brené Brown.
Leonardo DiCaprio is also endorsing Harris for president, with the Oscar-winning actor expressing support for the Democratic nominee in a video Friday.
“Climate change is killing the earth and ruining our economy, we need a bold step forward to save our economy, our planet and ourselves,” DiCaprio said in the video posted to Instagram.
“That’s why I’m voting for Kamala Harris.”
Trump is also headed to Texas Friday where he’ll talk immigration, and tape a podcast with host Joe Rogan.
There is some evidence to suggest that abortion rights may drive women to the polls as it did during the 2022 midterm elections. Voters in seven states, including some conservative ones, have either protected abortion rights or defeated attempts to restrict them in statewide votes over the past two years.
“Living in Texas, it feels incredibly important to protect women’s health and safety,” said Colette Clark, an Austin voter.
She said voting for Harris is the best way to prevent further abortion restrictions from happening across the country.
Trump has been inconsistent in his message to voters on abortion and reproductive rights.
He has repeatedly shifted his stance and offered vague, contradictory and at times nonsensical answers to questions on an issue that has become a major vulnerability for Republicans in this year’s election.
https://thewest.com.au/politics/harris-and-beyonc-rally-for-abortion-rights-in-texas-c-16525276
