Republican Liz Cheney has campaigned with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and urged voters in the US to reject the “depraved cruelty” of her rival, former President Donald Trump.
“I’ve by no means voted for a Democrat, however this 12 months I’m proudly casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” Cheney mentioned on Thursday, at an occasion within the swing state of Wisconsin.
“Placing patriotism forward of partisanship is just not an aspiration. It’s our responsibility.”
Her look with Harris befell within the small group of Ripon, the place, in 1854, the Republican Get together was established.
When Harris spoke afterwards, she thanked Cheney and mentioned she stood within the “best custom” of the Republican Get together’s leaders.
“She possesses a number of the qualities of character I most respect in any particular person and any chief – braveness, particularly at a second like this,” mentioned Harris. “When there are such a lot of highly effective forces intent on making an attempt to demean and belittle and make folks afraid.”
Ex-vice president additionally backs Democrat
The looks of Cheney, 58, and Harris, 59, got here a month after the one-time Wyoming congresswoman mentioned she and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, could be supporting Harris over Trump.
“As a conservative, as somebody who believes in and cares in regards to the Structure, I’ve thought deeply about this, and due to the hazard that Donald Trump poses, not solely am I not voting for Donald Trump, however I can be voting for Kamala Harris,” she mentioned in remarks on September 4.
On Thursday, Cheney repeated her issues about Trump, the de facto chief of the Republican Get together, whereas delivering a full-throated endorsement of Harris.
“Vice President Harris has devoted her life to public service. I do know she loves our nation, and I do know she can be a president for all Individuals. As a conservative, as a patriot, as a mom, as somebody who reveres our Structure, I’m honoured to affix her on this pressing trigger,” she mentioned.
Cheney additionally explicitly referenced Trump’s makes an attempt to sow doubt within the integrity of US elections.
Within the wake of the 2020 presidential race, Trump refused to just accept his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden, as a substitute alleging widespread voter fraud “rigged” the outcomes — a false declare.
“As we meet right here immediately, our republic faces a menace in contrast to any now we have confronted earlier than: a former president who tried to remain in energy by unravelling the foundations of our Republic by refusing to just accept the lawful outcomes, confirmed by dozens of courts, of the 2020 election,” Cheney mentioned.
‘Reject the wicked cruelty’
Cheney’s go to to Wisconsin got here a day after a federal judge unsealed a 165-page courtroom submitting outlining new proof in opposition to Trump in a case accusing him of election interference in 2020.
Trump has pleaded not responsible to 4 federal costs of conspiracy and obstruction.
As she spoke to voters on Thursday, Cheney denounced Trump’s character as unpresidential. “I ask you to fulfill this second. I ask you to face in reality, to reject the wicked cruelty of Donald Trump, and I ask you as a substitute to assist us elect Kamala Harris for president.”
Throughout her congressional profession, from 2017 to 2023, Cheney rose to be the third-most senior Republican within the Home of Representatives till she angered Trump and was pressured out of her management position.
Cheney was one among 10 Republican members of Congress who voted to question Trump in 2021.
The transfer got here days after hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, as a part of an alleged effort to stop the certification of Biden’s victory.
She was additionally the highest Republican on the Home committee that investigated the January 6 rebellion. Trump vowed revenge on those that had spoken in opposition to him, and in the summertime of 2022, Cheney misplaced her major in Wyoming to a challenger who had Trump’s assist.
There was no fast response from Trump to Thursday’s rally.
Wisconsin is one among a handful of battleground states which have beforehand been received by just some thousand votes.
A ballot by The New York Occasions presently provides Harris a two-point lead within the state.
