NY Dems ‘working hard’ to convince Harris to go to Al Smith dinner – Washington Examiner
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, has indicated that local Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul, are making efforts to persuade Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the upcoming Al Smith dinner. Harris declined the invitation to this traditional charity event, known for attracting presidential candidates during election years, with past candidates like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton having attended in 2016. Donald Trump has confirmed his attendance, while Harris will be focused on campaigning in competitive states.
Dolan expressed disappointment at Harris’s decision, noting the dinner’s spirit of unity and its history of hosting major political figures. He remarked that no significant presidential candidate has turned down an invitation since 1984, when Walter Mondale did so and subsequently lost to Ronald Reagan. Despite Harris’s absence, Dolan remains hopeful and stated that efforts to convince her to attend are ongoing. Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Harris for her decision, suggesting it reflects poorly on her relationship with the Catholic community.
New York Democrats ‘working hard’ to convince Harris to go to Al Smith dinner: Cardinal Dolan
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said state Democrats such as Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) are “working hard” to convince Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the annual Al Smith dinner in New York City.
Harris declined the invitation to a charity event known for hosting presidential candidates in election years. 2016 presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both attended in person that year, exchanging comedic jabs.
Trump has already said he will attend the Oct. 17 dinner, while Harris will be campaigning in battleground states.
“We’re disappointed,” Dolan said Monday. “We were looking forward to giving the vice president an enthusiastic welcome. … You know, she speaks very much about the high ideals and how it’s good to get away from division and come together in unity and all, well that’s what the Al Smith dinner is all about.
“We’re not used to this,” Dolan remarked before noting that a major presidential candidate has not declined an invitation to the dinner since 1984. Democrat Walter Mondale skipped the dinner that year and lost by a landslide to former President Ronald Reagan.
“We’re not giving up,” Dolan said. “Sen. Schumer and Gov. Hochul, they both are working hard to see that they convince [Harris] to come.”
The Washington Examiner contacted Schumer’s and Hochul’s offices but did not receive a response.
Trump mocked Harris for not accepting the invitation to the event in a post on Truth Social.
“It’s sad, but not surprising, that Kamala has decided not to attend,” Trump said Monday. “I don’t know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot, because she certainly hasn’t been very nice to them, in fact, Catholics are literally being persecuted by this Administration. Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined.”
Brian Browne, the associate vice president of university communications and public affairs at St. John’s University, told CruxNow that her decision to not attend the dinner was “puzzling.”
“Given she’s the Democratic candidate, she would have access to the best joke writers on the East Coast and the West Coast who would love the opportunity to write a script,” Browne said. “It’s a very scripted event. I know she seems to be very dependent on a teleprompter, but it’s a teleprompter event. Yes, you might get some groans if your jokes don’t land, but you’re not going to get booed off the stage or heckled. It’s always this kind of coming together type of moment.
“It’s a missed opportunity to demonstrate a human side and come together for a charitable cause, and you know, if I was advising her, I would tell her to reconsider this,” he added.
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