HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� Kamala Harris and ignited a Houston rally with a double-barreled argument against Donald Trump on Friday, with the superstar telling the Democratic nominee鈥檚 biggest crowd ever that it was 鈥渢ime to sing a new song鈥� as Harris warned that her GOP opponent was dead set on further eroding women鈥檚 rights.
The rally was set in reliably Republican Texas, to highlight the growing medical fallout from the state鈥檚 strict abortion ban, but the message was intended to register in the political battleground states, where Harris is hoping that the aftereffects from will spur voters to turn out to support her quest for the presidency.
鈥淔or all the men and women in this room, and watching around the country, we need you,鈥� 叠别测辞苍肠茅 said in a rare political appearance. The megastar's speech was lofty, joyful and optimistic 鈥� a temper to the seriousness of the topic and of the message Harris was there to bring.
鈥淚鈥檓 here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in," 叠别测辞苍肠茅 said. "A world where we have freedom to control our bodies, a world where we鈥檙e not divided.鈥�
Harris came out to huge cheers. She told the crowd that Trump had erased half a century of hard-fought progress when he appointed the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe and touched off a growing healthcare crisis.
She listed off downstream effects she sees from various bans. Women who never intended to end a pregnancy are suffering devastating complications when they can't get care. They have fewer options, and fewer medical students are choosing to specialize in women鈥檚 health.
鈥淔or anyone watching from another state, if you think you are protected from Trump abortion bans because you live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California, or any state where voters or legislators have protected reproductive freedom, please know: No one is protected,鈥� Harris warned. 鈥淏ecause a Donald Trump national ban will outlaw abortion in every single state.鈥�
鈥淎ll that to say, elections matter,鈥� she said.
Trump has been inconsistent in his message to voters on , though he鈥檚 said he鈥檇 veto a national abortion ban. He has repeatedly shifted his stance and offered vague, contradictory and at times nonsensical answers to questions on an issue that has become for Republicans in this year鈥檚 election.
Trump was also in Texas Friday, where he predicted he鈥檇 break records for the number of people deported from the United States if he wins the election. He taped a podcast with Joe Rogan before heading to a rally in Traverse City, Michigan, where he took the stage three hours late.
Harris was joined at the rally by women who have nearly died from sepsis and other pregnancy complications because they were unable to get proper medical care. Some of them have already been out campaigning for Harris and others have told their harrowing tales in how the issue has ballooned into something far bigger than the right to end an unwanted pregnancy.
Since abortion was restricted in Texas, the state鈥檚 , more babies have died of birth defects and maternal mortality has risen.
The crowd waited for hours, wearing flashing red, white and blue LED bracelets as 鈥渢rust women鈥� and 鈥渇reedom鈥� flashed on big screens between acts.
鈥淪ometimes they forget about us because we鈥檙e a Republican state,鈥� Rhonda Johnson, who has been living in Houston for 19 years, said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 glad she鈥檚 here.鈥�
Reproductive rights, the economy and LGBTQ issues were key reasons for Yannick Djomatchoua in his decision to support Harris and wait in the hours-long line to see her. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very personal,鈥� he said, adding that he knew friends who had to make difficult decisions due to the state鈥檚 abortion restrictions.
Harris鈥� campaign has taken on 叠别测辞苍肠茅鈥檚 2016 track 鈥淔reedom鈥� as its anthem, and the message dovetails with the vice president's emphasis on reproductive freedom. 叠别测辞苍肠茅 was joined by her mother, Tina Knowles, and her former bandmate Kelly Rowland, who all spoke about Harris' historic candidacy and a dream of a more united nation.
鈥淥ur voices sing a chorus of unity,鈥� 叠别测辞苍肠茅 said. 鈥淭hey sing a song of dignity and opportunity 鈥� are y'all ready?鈥�
Harris was also joined by country legend Willie Nelson, who sang some of his greatest hits, including 鈥淥n the Road Again."
"Hey, how are y鈥檃ll doing?鈥� the 91-year-old Nelson asked the crowd. 鈥淎re we ready to say Madam President?鈥�
Increasingly, in 14 states with strict abortion bans, . In some states, doctors .
Democrats warn that a winnowing of rights and freedoms will only continue if Trump is elected. Republican lawmakers in efforts to protect or expand access to birth control, for example.
鈥淚n America, freedom is not to be given. It is not to be bestowed. It is ours. By right. And that includes the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have the government telling her what to do,鈥� Harris said.
There is some evidence to suggest that abortion rights may drive women to the polls as it did . Voters , including some conservative ones, have either protected abortion rights or defeated attempts to restrict them in statewide votes over the past two years.
About Americans think their state should generally allow a person to obtain a legal abortion if they don鈥檛 want to be pregnant for any reason, according to a July poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Democrats also hope Harris' visit will give a boost to Rep. , who is making a longshot bid to unseat Republican Texas Sen. . Allred said Friday that if you vote to overturn a woman's constitutional right, as Cruz did, then you should lose your job.
Texas encapsulates the post-Roe landscape. Its strict abortion ban prohibits physicians from performing abortions once cardiac activity is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks or before.
As a result, women are increasingly suffering worse medical care. That's in part because doctors cannot intervene unless a woman is facing a life-threatening condition, or to prevent 鈥渟ubstantial impairment of major bodily function.鈥�
鈥淭exas鈥� abortion bans unleashed by Donald Trump almost cost me my life and have left me with physical and emotional scars,鈥� said Ondrea Cummings, who lost her 16-week baby and nearly died from sepsis when she couldn't get care fast enough.
鈥淚 never thought I would have this type of personal experience. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.鈥�
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Long reported from Washington.
Darlene Superville, Colleen Long And Nadia Lathan, The Associated Press
