Kamala Harris to depart Pittsburgh, head to Philadelphia for high-profile debate
Vice President Kamala Harris will bid the Steel City farewell Monday after spending the past five days in Pittsburgh preparing for her upcoming high-profile debate.
Harris is scheduled to depart the city late Monday afternoon from the Pittsburgh International Airport heading to Philadelphia for an upcoming debate against rival former President Donald Trump, according to the White House.
Trump and Harris will face off Tuesday for a debate that starts at 9 p.m. Tuesday in Philadelphia. It will be broadcast on ABC and the streaming platforms ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. Several networks have also agreed to carry the event live.
On Sunday, Harris took a short break from her debate prep to enjoy a walk in Moon in the crisp, breezy weather.
Harris took a stroll with her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, at around 5 p.m. Sunday evening on the grounds of the 171st Air Refueling Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard base in Moon, according to pool reports.
The walk was closed to the public, but pool reports say Harris gave a thumbs up when asked if she was ready for her upcoming debate against rival former President Donald Trump.
She was wearing a black sweater and scarf. Emhoff had on a “Harris/Walz” campaign sweatshirt.
Harris has been staying at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. She has mostly stayed hunkered down in the hotel during her five-day stay, preparing for the debate.
On Saturday, she took a short trip to Penzeys Spices in the Strip District to purchase spices and interact with customers.
She was asked Saturday what her main message to former President Donald Trump will be during Tuesday’s debate.
“It’s time to turn the page on the divisiveness,” Harris said. “It’s time to bring our country together. Chart a new way forward.”
Trump will arrive in Philadelphia on early Tuesday evening, according to his campaign.
Harris is scheduled to return to Southwestern Pennsylvania on Wednesday afternoon to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, according to the White House. She will be accompanying President Joe Biden in Shanksville.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.