On Thursday, former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris campaigned together in Wisconsin, denouncing former President Donald Trump and urging voters to prioritize patriotism over partisanship.
Cheney, known for her conservative stance and sharp criticism of Trump, made a rare endorsement of Harris, calling Trump unfit to lead the country.
“I’ve never voted for a Democrat, but this year I’m proudly casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” Cheney said, addressing a crowd in Ripon, the birthplace of the Republican Party.
Cheney, who was the top Republican on the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, has been vocal in her criticism of Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The event marked a significant moment in the 2024 presidential race, as Harris seeks to court centrist and Republican voters in battleground states like Wisconsin.
Cheney’s endorsement could provide Harris with a much-needed boost among independents and moderate Republicans, despite her historically conservative views.
“Our republic faces a threat unlike any we have faced before,” Cheney warned, referencing Trump’s efforts to subvert the election and his role in the January 6 insurrection.
She emphasized that Trump’s actions disqualify him from leading the nation, calling him “petty, vindictive, and cruel.”
Harris praised Cheney for her courage in speaking out against Trump, describing her as standing in the “finest tradition” of the Republican Party’s leaders.
“She possesses some of the qualities of character I most respect in any leader – courage, especially at a moment like this,” Harris said.
The appearance of Cheney alongside Harris comes just days after a federal judge unsealed new evidence against Trump, detailing his alleged attempts to interfere with the 2020 election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Cheney’s endorsement of Harris is particularly notable given her family’s deep ties to the Republican Party. Her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, also supports Harris in the 2024 election, marking a significant break from the party’s current leadership.
While Cheney acknowledged her differences with Harris on several issues, she emphasized their shared commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.
“Vice President Harris has dedicated her life to public service. I know she loves our country, and I know she will be a president for all Americans,” Cheney said.
Despite Cheney’s support, Harris faces an uphill battle in winning over Republican voters.
Recent polling shows her struggling to gain traction with the GOP, although she holds a narrow lead over Trump among all voters in several key swing states.
In her remarks, Cheney urged voters to reject what she called the “depraved cruelty” of Trump and to unite in defense of American democracy.
“I ask you to stand in truth, to reject the depraved cruelty of Donald Trump, and I ask you instead to help us elect Kamala Harris for president,” she said.
There has been a growing shift among GOP republicans in their support for Trump as many have started to endorse Harris.
Previously, In Greensboro on Wednesday, a group of Republicans and former Republicans, including ex-Congressman Denver Riggleman, former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, and businessman David Daggett, held a press event to voice their opposition to Donald Trump and endorse the Harris-Walz ticket.
They warned that Trump represents a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law.
Riggleman praised Harris and Walz as “sane, moral, and rational,” rejecting the "lying" and "conspiracy theories" associated with Trump. Orr, who left the GOP after the January 6 insurrection, said Trump has only become more dangerous since leaving office.
Robert Brown, once a proud Republican, criticized Trump as a "wannabe dictator" who has transformed the party. Daggett, who voted against Trump and North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the primary, echoed these sentiments, calling the MAGA movement harmful to North Carolina and the country.
Harris has also garnered endorsements from over 230 Bush-McCain-Romney alums and more than 100 national security officials.
Among them is former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who stated she is proud to vote for Harris and Walz, stressing the need to move beyond the Trump era for America’s healing.
Meanwhile, Trump continues campaigning in key swing states like Michigan, where billboards from the Democratic National Committee highlight his refusal to accept the 2020 election results.
As the 2024 election approaches, the Harris-Cheney alliance underscores the deep divisions within the Republican Party and highlights the stakes of the upcoming race, especially in battleground states like Wisconsin, where elections are often decided by narrow margins.
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