Harris celebrates his birthday with a church visit after Trump's harsh rhetoric at the rally | US elections 2024

Democratic governors from three states in the so-called Blue Wall, which is crucial to their party's push for an Electoral College victory, held closing arguments for Kamala Harris on Sunday as their presidential candidate celebrated her 60th birthday with a church visit.

Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Tony Evers of Wisconsin and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan stormed onto the political shows Sunday morning to talk about the vice president's policy agenda – and point out differences with Republican candidate Donald Trump, 16 days before an election that According to surveys, knife edge is still underway.

Supporters of Trump, meanwhile, sought to defend the former president's extraordinary and vulgar rhetoric during a rally Saturday night in Pennsylvania, when he called Harris a “shitty vice president” and highlighted the size of the late golfer Arnold Palmer's penis.

“I don’t want to go back to Donald Trump when he ran the country,” Shapiro told NBC’s Meet the Press.

“Do you remember the recording? I know there are still some people who may have their heads spinning a little and can't remember what it was like under Donald Trump. There was more chaos, there were fewer jobs and there was much less freedom.

“I don’t think we want to go back to a time of chaos. I want a stable, strong leader, and that is Kamala Harris.”

It also emerged on Sunday that Harris does not plan to campaign with Joe Biden before Election Day on November 5th. The development appears to confirm recent reports of tensions between the two after the 81-year-old president was pressured not to run for re-election over age-related issues.

“The most important role he can play is to do his job as president,” an anonymous White House official told NBC News, saying the decision was mutual after discussions between the campaign and Biden administration officials been.

Shapiro joined Evers and Whitmer, his fellow travelers on a weekend tour on the Blue Wall bus, for a joint interview on ABC's “This Week,” in which the three spoke of polls showing the presidential race was virtually deadlocked in all three states.

“Both candidates believe Pennsylvania is critically important — I just think we have a better candidate, a better message, and what we're seeing is a lot more energy,” Shapiro said.

According to Whitmer, Michigan voters compared the records of both candidates before the Nov. 5 election.

“Although it will be close, I would much rather play our hand into their cards,” she said. “We have a better candidate. We have receipts on the issues that matter to the American people, on the economy, on individual rights, on affordable housing, and we are in a better position.”

Evers, who has served twice as governor, dismissed Trump's claims that a Harris administration would be a drag on the U.S. economy, citing Democrats' policies in Wisconsin as an example.

“We have the best economy we've ever had, the biggest budget we've ever had and we're in good shape and people are making more money than ever before.” So we're in a good place and it had Nothing to do with Donald Trump,” he said.

The swing state governors spoke as Harris rallied black voters in another swing state, Georgia, with “souls to the vote” visits to two community churches on Sunday.

“What kind of country do we want to live in – a country of chaos, fear and hate or a country of freedom, compassion and justice?” she told the congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.

“The great thing about living in a democracy is that we, the people, have the power to answer that question. So let us respond not only with our words, but also with our actions and with our voices.”

Harris has tried to gain the support of the black community, particularly black men. Polls have warned of a lack of enthusiasm for her campaign, although recent polls from the Howard Initiative on Public Opinion showed Harris had built a lead among black voters in swing states.

Singer Stevie Wonder was later scheduled to join her at a rally at Divine Faith Ministries International in Jonesboro. This gathering was scheduled to take place in advance of Harris' interview with civil rights leader Al Sharpton, which will air later Sunday on MSNBC.

“We just have to keep going,” U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia — a Black Democrat — said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “And the good news is – that’s exactly what Kamala Harris is doing….”

Trump remained in Pennsylvania for an afternoon rally in Lancaster and a photo op at a McDonald's restaurant, the day after his bizarre appearance in Latrobe, Palmer's hometown, during which he rambled at length – in a more imprecise speech – about how well-equipped the population is as golfers was in relation to his genitals.

Republicans appearing on Sunday talk shows tried to distract from Trump's comments and other recent behavior, suggesting in an interview this week, among other things, that he would use the U.S. military against political enemies.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham lost his temper when questioned on NBC's “Meet the Press” — trying to focus on two recent assassination attempts on Trump, both carried out by pro-Republican figures became.

“When you talk about rhetoric, you have to remember that they were trying to blow his head off,” Graham said. “He was shot and hit in the ear and we're lucky they didn't blow his head off. And another guy tried to kill him…so I'm not too impressed with the rhetoric game here.”

Graham also condemned Republican colleagues, including former congressmen Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, as well as numerous former Trump administration officials who denounced him and expressed support for Harris.

Retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called Trump “fascist to the core,” according to veteran journalist Bob Woodward’s new book War.

“To all the Republicans who vote for you: What the hell are you doing?” Graham said. “You are supporting the most radical candidate in the history of American politics. If you support them, you are supporting four more years of waste policy.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was more reserved — but equally determined to avoid questions about Trump's comments in an appearance on CNN's “State of the Union,” suggesting it was moderator Jake Tapper was obsessed with talking about Palmer's penis.

“The media can pick it apart, but people are going to vote on what's best for their family and that's what they see in Trump,” he said.

Early in-person voting is underway in numerous states, with Georgia voters on Tuesday setting a first-day turnout record, even as polls show the candidates are virtually dead.

Shapiro said winning over the remaining undecided voters will determine the winner.

“There are people who don't follow this on a daily basis, people who don't follow the polls. They go to work, bring kids home, do their work with their kids and get up the next day,” he said.

“The surveys are based on a small number. I know it’s a science, but at the end of the day I come across people all the time who just haven’t thought about it, so we’re going to help them.”