Harris' full day in Wisconsin shifts after Hamas leader killed
GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Less than three weeks before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris spent Thursday, Oct. 17 entirely in Wisconsin, making three stops in different corners of this pivotal state.
The vice president began the day with a pair of events aimed at college students at UW-Milwaukee and UW-La Crosse. The campaign's plans shifted after news broke those Israeli forces had killed the leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar.
CBS 58 had a photojournalist in the press pool following Harris from the Pfister Hotel, where she spent Wednesday night, to the UW-Milwaukee (UWM) campus. However, the pool was not allowed in the room when Harris and famous businessman Mark Cuban met with a business class.
Press was kept in a holding room while staff set up flags and podium. Harris then emerged and delivered prepared remarks reacting to Sinwar's death.
"Sinwar was responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent people, including the victims of October 7 and hostages killed in Gaza," Harris said. "He had American blood on his hands. Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief."
On the UWM campus, dozens of student protesters gathered to criticize the current administration’s stance on the war in the Middle East but learned of the significant international news during Harris’ trip to the state.
“We’re going to make our voices heard,” said Anatoli Rasmussen a student at UW-Milwaukee. Rasmussen stated that the deaths in Gaza are a result of the conflict, calling it a genocide.
As she drove past students in the motorcade, some UW-Milwaukee students were able to catch a glimpse of her waving to the crowd that gathered to watch her.
“Being able to see this unfold in front of me, I feel a part of history and it’s really special,” said Elizabeth Cyr, a student at Marquette University who came to UW-Milwaukee campus to watch the pageantry of the visit.
“I think this is the most action our campus has seen in a while,” said Dalina Jonuzi, a student at UW-Milwaukee. “I think it’s great, I think it can help students be informed of what’s going on.”
Dozens of law enforcement agencies from across the state were on campus to block off roads and address protesters during the visit.
After her stop in Milwaukee, the vice president headed to La Crosse before wrapping up in Green Bay.
Harris spoke for nearly 30 minutes before a packed Resch Expo Hall. Her speech made no mention of Sinwar's death or the situation in Gaza.
A release from the Harris campaign said the vice president's Green Bay event would focus on "the stakes of the election for women across the country."
At one point during her speech, Harris played clips on a videoboard of Mr. Trump praising the Supreme Court decision that ended federal abortion rights under Roe v. Wade.
The former president has since tried to distance himself from abortion bans, saying the decision had now left the issue for states to decide.
"No matter how he likes to gaslight us, we are clear about how we got here," Harris said. "Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade."
A spokesman for the Trump campaign tied Harris to President Joe Biden in a statement sent before the UW-Milwaukee event.
"Given Kamala Harris can’t even put together a half-decent answer on what she’d do differently than Sleepy Joe Biden over the last four years, another campaign visit isn’t going to move the needle for her failing campaign," the Trump campaign's Wisconsin spokesperson, Jacob Fischer, said.
Harris' speech also ran through a series of economic proposals her campaign had laid out, including the expansion of Medicare to cover home healthcare for the elderly and $25,000 credits to help with down payments for first-time homebuyers.
Both campaigns have pledged to spend more time in Wisconsin over the final 19 days of the campaign.
Former President Barack Obama will lead a rally in Madison on Tuesday, Oct. 22 with vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. Mr. Trump has previously told reporters he plans to hold rallies in Milwaukee and Green Bay before the election.