Pittsburghers react to Kamala Harris speech at CMU
VP describes economic vision, says Pittsburgh's proud heritage 'reveals the character of our nation.' Attendees show support

Hearing Vice President Kamala Harris detail her economic plan for the country’s future was a meaningful way to spend a Wednesday, several Pittsburghers said.
“I feel so lucky to actually be here in person to see her,” Squirrel Hill resident Esther Nathanson told the Chronicle.
Nathanson and her daughter Elinor Nathanson were among approximately 450 people invited to attend a Sept. 25 event with the Democratic presidential nominee at Carnegie Mellon University’s Philip Chosky Theater.
During her remarks before the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, Harris described her desire to bolster America’s middle class, support small businesses, guarantee that “everyone has a chance to chase their dreams and aspirations,” and ensure that the U.S. continues to “out-innovate and out-compete the world.”
Harris’ 40-minute speech touted Pittsburgh’s place within American history.

“The proud heritage of Pittsburgh reveals the character of our nation: A nation that harnesses the ambitions, dreams and aspirations of our people. Seizes the opportunities before us. And invents the future. That is what we have always done. And that is what we must do now,” she said.
Downtown resident Herky Pollock said he appreciated Harris’ description of Pittsburgh and her desire to fight for those beyond the three rivers.
“She thinks about all Americans, not just those at the top,” he said. “She wants to lift us all up and make us all better. And she really spoke from the heart, and she spoke with integrity and empirical evidence.”
Squirrel Hill resident Louise Mayo similarly praised Harris’ address.
“It was solid, and I’m a historian,” Mayo said.
The professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of History and Political Science at the County College of Morris likened Harris’ approach to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s.
“I really get upset by people who say she’s not specific enough,” Mayo said, “because I can tell you that there was a man who ran for president in the midst of a terrible Depression, and people said, ‘Well, he’s pleasant, but he’s a lightweight…he just said he was going to change things.’ And guess what? He was considered one of our greatest presidents: Franklin Roosevelt.”

Mayo attended the event with her son and daughter-in-law.
After canvassing together on behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign, being able to come to CMU and hear “potentially the first woman to be elected president, and to get to share that with my mother-in-law, is pretty exciting,” Sara Stock Mayo said.
Elinor Nathanson agreed: “It’s very meaningful to be here with our moms, generations of women, fighting the good fight and making great progress, slowly but surely.”
Harris’ Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, is expected to return to the Butler Farm Show grounds in Butler Township for a campaign rally on Oct. 5. Trump’s appearance there on July 13 was cut short due to an assassination attempt. PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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