Vice President Kamala Harris dodged a question about whether she is being held to a higher standard than Donald Trump on the campaign trail, after former first lady Michelle Obama criticized the vice president.
During a rally Saturday, Obama accused the former president of gross incompetence and said Harris has to “dazzle” people and prove she belongs.
“Can anyone tell me why, once again, we are holding Kamala to a higher standard than her opponent?” Obama asked at a rally in Kalamazoo.
“We expect her to be smart and articulate, to have a clear set of policies, to never show too much anger, to prove time and time again that she belongs,” the former first lady said.
“But we don’t expect anything from Trump at all, no understanding of politics, no ability to make a coherent argument, no honesty, no decency, no morals,” he continued.
Vice President Kamala Harris walks to board Air Force Two to depart for Michigan on Monday. Before leaving for the swing state, he dodged a question about Michelle Obama’s claim that Harris faces a double standard on the campaign trail.
When asked by a reporter Monday about the double standard, Harris avoided addressing the issue.
“My role and responsibility as a candidate for president of the United States is to make my case to the American people and earn their support,” Harris said.
The vice president said that is why she spends time traveling the country listening to voters and sharing her plans to support them.
Her comments come after the former first lady gave a searing analysis of coverage and voter reactions to the 2024 presidential race and argued that people are willing to dismiss Trump’s decision.childish and petty pranks.
Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke at Kamala Harris’ rally Saturday in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was his first appearance in the 2024 election campaign.
During the Kalamazoo rally, Obama asserted that Harris faces a higher standard than Trump and must prove she belongs, while people are willing to dismiss Trump’s “antics.”
“I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m a little angry that we’re indifferent to his erratic behavior, his obvious mental deterioration, his history as a convicted felon, a known slumlord, a convicted predator responsible for sexual abuse.” Obama said.
“All this while we separate Kamala’s answers from interviews she doesn’t even have the courage to do,” he continued in a brutal attack.
But when asked about it, Harris went on to talk about her proposals to help Americans.
The question about the accusation of double standards came before the vice president returned to Michigan, where she has three campaign stops Monday, including a visit to a manufacturing facility in Saginaw, a training facility in Macomb and then a rally in Ann Arbor.
Before heading to the disputed state, the vice president also condemned the racist comments made in the Triumph rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
He said the event was “aimed at and is fueling the fuel” of division in the United States.
“I think Donald Trump’s event last night at Madison Square Garden really highlighted a point that he’s been making throughout this campaign. “He’s focused and really obsessed with his grievances, with himself, and with the division of our country. “said the vice president.