Harris accuses Trump of 'disrespect' at US military cemetery
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Kamala Harris accused Donald Trump of pulling a "political stunt" at a National Cemetary in Washington.
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Bill Barnett and Donald Trump place their hands ovre their heart at Arlington National Cemetary on August 26, 2024. (AP)
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris accused Republican opponent Donald Trump on Saturday of "disrespected sacred ground" at a US military cemetery, following accusations that his campaign crew assaulted a staff member during a political visit.
"Let me be clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt," Harris said of Monday's event at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, where Trump was with relatives of US military soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
The US Army confirmed on Thursday that a member of the cemetery staff was pushed aside after requesting that Trump's entourage cease recording in a location designated for the burial of fallen soldiers, where photography is prohibited.
According to the military, the situation was "unfortunate."
Trump's campaign staff, meanwhile, has gone on the attack, calling the worker a "despicable individual" and asserting that she was having a mental health crisis.
Read more: Harris not to alter Biden policies on 'Israel'
Harris widens lead over Trump with boost from women: Reuters
A recent report published by Reuters reveals that Democrat Kamala Harris holds a 45% to 41% lead over Republican Donald Trump, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday, indicating a surge in voter enthusiasm and a shift in the race as the November 5 election approaches.
This four-point lead among registered voters marks a significant increase from the narrow 1-point advantage Harris had over Trump in a late July Reuters/Ipsos poll. The latest poll, conducted over eight days ending Wednesday with a two percentage point margin of error, shows Harris gaining notable support, particularly among women and Hispanic voters.
Harris now leads Trump by 49% to 36%—a 13-point margin—among both women and Hispanic voters. In July, across four Reuters/Ipsos polls, Harris held a nine-point lead among women and a six-point lead among Hispanics, indicating her growing support within these key demographics.
These developments underscore how the US presidential race has been dramatically altered over the summer. On July 21, President Joe Biden, 81, suspended his faltering campaign after a disastrous debate performance against Trump, which prompted widespread calls from fellow Democrats for him to withdraw from the race.
Since then, Harris has gained traction against Trump in both national polls and surveys in crucial swing states. While national polls, such as the Reuters/Ipsos survey, offer important insights into voter sentiment, the election's outcome will ultimately hinge on the Electoral College, where state-by-state results will be decisive, with a few battleground states likely to play a pivotal role.
In the seven states where the 2020 election was most competitive—Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada—Trump led Harris 45% to 43% among registered voters in the poll.
