US Vice President Kamala Harris launched an attack on Donald Trump at her first rally of the White House campaign, describing the November election as a choice between a former prosecutor and a convicted felon.
Ms. Harris, speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 people in the battleground state of Wisconsin, likened her Republican opponents to what she called indicted fraudsters.
Meanwhile, Trump blasted her record on the border, posting on social media: “Lying Kamala Harris destroys everything she touches!”
A day earlier, she secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, paving the way for her to become the party’s nominee.
On Sunday afternoon, President Joe Biden announced he was withdrawing from the race and endorsing his vice president amid mounting pressure from top Democrats and donors following a disastrous debate with Trump in late June.
The fledgling Harris campaign raised a staggering more than $100m (£77m) in the 36 hours after Biden withdrew.
A new national poll from Reuters/Ipsos showed her leading Trump by two points, 44% to 42%, further bolstering her momentum.
Ms. Harris took the stage at a suburban Milwaukee high school on Tuesday and highlighted her experience as California’s attorney general to applause.
“I’ve dealt with all kinds of criminals,” she said, “predators who abuse women, fraudsters who rip off consumers, con men who bend the rules for personal gain.”
“So listen to me when I say I know the type of Donald Trump,” Ms. Harris added. “In this campaign, I promise you I will proudly compare my record to his any day of the week.”
In response, the crowd chanted “Kamala! Kamala!” Some observers noted that the audience’s enthusiasm was in stark contrast to the enthusiasm seen at Biden events this election cycle.
Many attendees chanted “Lock him up” when her Republican opponent’s name was mentioned, echoing similar remarks made by Trump’s 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton at Trump events.
At the same time, Trump released the results of a poll on his social media platform “Truth Social”, calling Ms. Harris the most unpopular vice president in American history.
He also shared a post noting that she was rated by nonpartisan congressional scorekeeper GovTrack as one of the most left-wing of dozens of Democratic senators during her tenure.
Ms. Harris listed a number of liberal priorities in her speech, including gun control and abortion access, as well as child poverty, union rights and affordable health care.
“Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and the rule of law or a country of chaos, fear and hatred?” she said.
Whether Ms. Harris can maintain the momentum is unclear. In a memo released on Tuesday, pollster Tony Fabrizio predicted her “honeymoon” with voters would be over and would “refocus on her role as Biden’s partner and co-pilot.”
The Trump campaign is attacking Ms Harris for her “failure” to stop a record flood of illegal immigrants flooding the US-Mexico border. It also said it would slam the Biden-Harris administration’s record on crime and inflation.
An email from the Republican nominee’s team on Tuesday afternoon accused her of bailing out “alleged murderers, rapists and other violent offenders,” insulting Israel and deceiving Biden about his “cognitive decline.” American public.
“She’s a radical leftist, but the country doesn’t want the radical left destroying it,” Trump said of Ms. Harris during a call with reporters.
“I think it should be easier for her than Biden because he’s slightly more mainstream, but not a lot.”
Trump also said he would be willing to debate her in September, when he was scheduled to face off against Biden on ABC News.
“I didn’t agree with anything,” he said.
Most Democratic lawmakers – including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer – have backed Ms Harris’ candidacy.
Entertainers George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Jamie Lee Curtis and other Hollywood stars have also endorsed her, which could bring more big donations to her campaign.
Her campaign remains under review Potential running mate.
President Biden will speak in the Oval Office on Wednesday to explain his decision to withdraw. He returned to the White House on Tuesday after spending several days out of the public eye to recover from the coronavirus.
In Washington, Republican members of the US House of Representatives introduced articles of impeachment against Ms Harris.
The resolution, authored by Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, charges her with felonies and misdemeanors related to the processing of immigrants at the border.
It was considered unlikely to move forward.
