GLENDALE, Ariz. – Vice President Kamala Harris took a moment to address anti-Israel protesters who disrupted her rally in Arizona on Friday, telling the hecklers, “I respect your voices.”
The interruption came about five minutes into Harris’ speech to a packed house at the Desert Diamond Arena, outside of Phoenix, and the 59-year-old’s response to the protesters marked a striking change in tact from her approach in Michigan on Thursday, where she shut down and scolded anti-Israel hecklers.
“Hold on a second. Hold on, hold on, hold on everybody,” Harris said as her supporters chanted, “USA, USA” in an attempt to drown out the protesters.
“We’re here to fight for our democracy, which includes respecting the voices that I think that we are hearing from,” the Democratic nominee for president continued.
“And let me just say this — on the topic of what I think I’m hearing over there — let me just speak to that for a moment, and then I’m going to get back to the business at hand.
“I have been clear — now is the time to get a cease-fire deal and get the hostage deal done,” Harris declared, adding that she has been “working around the clock” with President Biden, 81, to get a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas done.
“So, I respect your voices, but we are here to now talk about this race in 2024,” she said, shifting back to her prepared remarks.
Harris was far more eager to engage with her detractors in Phoenix than she was in Detroit, where anti-Israel hecklers chanted, “Kamala! Kamala! You can’t hide! We won’t vote for genocide!” during her remarks.
“You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking,” she said Thursday after a series of disruptions, pausing to stare down the demonstrators.
Despite the momentary disturbance, the massive crowd Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, drew in Arizona Friday was overwhelmingly jubilant.
About 15,000 supporters crowded into the arena, according to the Harris campaign, which is believed to be a record for a Democratic political event in the Grand Canyon State.
“It’s not as if anybody cares about crowd sizes or anything,” Walz quipped after he took the stage to chants of “Coach, Coach, Coach” before Harris’ speech.
“You came here for one simple reason: You love this democracy,” the Minnesota governor and former congressman told the enthusiastic crowd, praising them for braving the 106-degree heat to make it to the rally.
Walz brought up his military service, which has been called into question by Republicans and veterans since being tapped as Harris’ running mate, five minutes into his remarks.
“Two days after I turned 17, my dad took me down to join the Army National Guard. And for 24 years, I proudly wore that uniform,” he said.
“I’m proud of that service, but what my nation gave my dad and millions of others and me was an opportunity to use the GI Bill to get a college education,” Walz added, referencing his Korean War veteran father.
Rallygoers were overwhelmingly positive about Harris’ running mate selection despite a few admitting that they had never heard of him until Tuesday.
“I was surprised, but I’m really happy,” central Phoenix resident Tony McMurray, who works in construction, told The Post about Harris tapping Walz.
“I’d never heard of him,” he acknowledged, noting that he was “hoping and thought” Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly would be the pick, but when he read up on Walz he was “happy to hear” he was selected.
“I like his vibe,” Isabella, from Phoenix, said, also admitting that she “never heard him before” Tuesday.
“I think he’s more personable than JD Vance,” she added, referring to the Ohio senator and GOP vice presidential nominee.
“He seems like, you know, somebody I ought to go camping with,” Daniel, from North Phoenix, said.
When chants of “lock him up,” broke out after Walz accused former President Donald Trump of serving “only himself,” the animated governor half-heartedly attempted to quiet down the crowd before shouting, “Better yet, beat the hell out of him at the ballot box.”
Trump, 78, defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Arizona by 3.5 percentage points in 2016, but lost the state to Biden by less than a percentage point in 2020.
The 2024 race is shaping up to be just as tight as it was four years ago.
A FiveThirtyEight average of polls shows Trump leading Harris by a razor-thin 0.4 percentage point margin, 44.8% to 44.4%, in the state where 11 Electoral College votes will be up for grabs in November.
Immigration is among the top issues for Arizonans this election cycle, and Harris briefly delved into the subject during her remarks.
“We know our immigration system is broken, and we know what it takes to fix it,” she said. “Comprehensive reform that includes strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship.”
Harris criticized Trump for opposing a congressional legislation earlier this year aimed at addressing border security and immigration reform, arguing that the former president “talks a big game about border security” but doesn’t “walk the walk.”
