Kamala Harris's campaign representative announces that she will forego participating in the noteworthy Al Smith Dinner in New York prior to the election.
In conventional presidential election seasons, the traditional Catholic fundraiser event typically involves comedic roasts by the main political party contenders, aimed at one another and others. This year's event, scheduled in a glitzy ballroom in Midtown Manhattan, has already hit capacity, anticipating around 1,500 guests.
In 2016, attendees were taken aback when Donald Trump deviated from the usual camaraderie to hurl a barrage of personal insults at Hillary Clinton. In response to Clinton's self-deprecating humor, she was met with expected laughter. The event's name honors the first significant party presidential nominee, Democratic governor Al Smith of New York, who ran in 1928.
Smith, despite his noble defeat against Herbert Hoover, paved the way for another Catholic nominee, John F. Kennedy, in 1960, who eventually claimed the presidency.
Eight years prior, Trump, seated next to New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, ambushed Clinton, labeling her a liar and ridiculing her over hacked emails. When the crowd protested, Trump retorted, “I'm unsure if they're angry at you, Hillary, or perhaps me. For instance, here you are tonight, feigning disdain towards Catholics.”
By skipping the dinner, Harris would likely evade sharing the stage with Dolan, who faced scrutiny from Democrats for maintaining friendly relations with Trump.(He delivered the invocation at Trump's 2017 inauguration.)
As COVID-19 prevented in-person gatherings, both Trump and Biden addressed the virtual iteration of the event in a more reverent manner, avoiding jokes and jabs while making appeals to Catholic voters in 2020. Biden subsequently ascended to power as the nation's second Catholic president.
Neither Harris nor Trump had formally confirmed their attendance for this year's occasion, but the expectation was that they would both be present, as advised by comedian and host Jim Gaffigan.
Taking to social media on September 12, Gaffigan endorsed the dinner after Trump announced he would not debate Harris again. The unlikely face-off between the two, targeted for October 17th, was not meant to be. However, Harris expressed her ambition to participate in future years, provided she ascended to the presidency.
Harris unexpectedly accepted an invitation from CNN for a debate with Trump on October 23, a week following the dinner, urging Trump to allocate time for another heated showdown with only a fortnight left to Election Day.
"Vice President Harris is eager to engage in yet another confrontation with Donald Trump," campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon commented. "Donald Trump should have no issue agreeing to this debate."
Stirring some hesitation, Trump, who occasionally hinted at possibly debating Harris, argued that the debate was now "impossible" due to the progress of voting.
"The predicament with another debate is that it's simply too late; voting has already commenced," Trump stated at a campaign rally in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The political tension between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the 2016 event was palpable, with Trump launching personal attacks towards Clinton. (containing 'politics')
Given the religious sensitivities associated with the event, some politicians may choose to avoid potential controversy by skipping the dinner, as Vice President Harris seemed to imply with her statement about participating in future years. (containing 'politics')
