With the end of the presidential race just a couple days away, both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris rallied in Phoenix to ask their supporters for help in one of the country’s most sought-after swing states.
Harris spoke at her campaign rally on Thursday where she called for her supporters "to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump."
"Donald Trump would walk into the office with an enemies list," Harris said. "When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list."
Attendees filled Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre on Thursday morning to hear Harris, who was joined by other Arizona politicians.
Arizona figures such as Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Rep. Ruben Gallego opened for Harris, along with a performance from the Latin band Los Tigres Del Norte.
At the rally, Harris contrasted her and Trump’s professional practices and said she would pledge to always put the country first, naming herself a "president for all Americans."
READ MORE: 'Coach Walz' returns to Phoenix for an early voting event at local high school
"I pledge to you to seek common ground and common sense solutions to the challenges you face," Harris said. "I am not looking to score political points. I am looking to make progress."
Payton Henderson, a senior studying political science at ASU, attended the rally to see Harris speak on workers' rights and unionization. Henderson said that this could be the issue to swing the undecided voters.
Henderson chose to go this Thursday at what would most likely be the last Harris rally in Arizona before the election.
"I feel like this is a very consequential election," Henderson said. "Trump is damaging to American democracy."
Kelsi Andersen, a sophomore studying nursing at Chandler Gilbert Community College, said she was hoping to hear Harris speak on issues that would change the minds of independent voters because so many people in Arizona are on the fence.
"The election is always so close here, so it's really important to get out there and advocate," Andersen said. "Not just her (Harris), but also her supporters."
Harris ended her speech by speaking about Gen Z and said she sees the “promise of America” within the first-time voting population.
"You guys are rightly impatient for change," Harris said. "It's not political for you all. It is your lived experience. … I see your incredible power and I am so proud of you."
Hours after the Harris-Walz rally, former President Donald Trump and media personality Tucker Carlson were set to take the stage at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale for a "Tucker Carlson Live Tour" event.
Before taking the stage, pre-programing began with other well-known political figures, such as Charlie Kirk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Sen. Mike Lee.
Children's health, religion and leaving the Democratic party were some of the topics covered in Kennedy's speech.
"The Democratic Party was a home for me that it was incomprehensible to me that I would ever leave," Kennedy said. "Today's Democratic Party is the party of war."
After taking aim at his former party, Kennedy spoke on a staple of his previous campaign: the health of Americans.
He called the present health of Americans a "National Security threat," citing a 2020 statistic that 77% of 17 to 24-year-old Americans were not eligible to enlist in the military without a waiver.
READ MORE: Trump visits ASU Mullett Arena, speaks on border policies and the battleground vote
Carlson introduced the former president after Kennedy's speech. Once on stage, Trump discussed the 2016 election and immigration, as well as taking aim at Republicans, such as Liz Cheney.
"The reason she doesn't like me is that she wanted to stay in Iraq," said Trump. "She always wanted to go to war with people. I don't want to go to war."
The following day, Arizona's Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes told 12News "I have already asked my criminal division chief to start looking at that statement, analyzing it for whether it qualifies as a death threat under Arizona's laws," referring to a statement Trump made at the Glendale event that Cheney should face gunfire.
Along with frustration for Republicans who have endorsed Harris, Trump went on to discuss the state of the country and what his supporters are doing about it. He cited the size of his rallies as proof of the passion and love people have for himself and his campaign.
"It's an amazing phenomenon, and ... I've given you the credit," Trump said, addressing the crowd. "We've become a stupid country run by stupid people, and you're tired of it."
Edited by George Headley, Sophia Braccio and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporters at mamareng@asu.edu and ehprest1@asu.edu and follow @matthewmarengo and @ellis_reports on X.
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Matthew is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communications. This is his second semester with The State Press. He has also worked at The Cut Network.
Ellis is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. This is her first semester with The State Press. She has also worked at Arizona PBS and Blaze Radio.
