Vice President Kamala Harris will not attend the Al Smith charity dinner on Thursday, opting instead to send a pre-recorded video. This decision marks a departure from a long-standing tradition, as reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Harris is set to be the first presidential candidate in decades to forgo attendance at this event, which raises funds for Catholic charities that assist with children’s medical and financial requirements. Instead, she intends to participate in the October 17 gathering by providing a pre-recorded message.
“Vice President Harris will appear via a pre-recorded video at tonight’s dinner,” Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York said.
Googled “Al Smith Dinner”, which Kamala is avoiding because she is unpopular AND unfunny
She is the first presidential candidate to skip since 1984
So what does Google say?
“Why it is smart for Kamala Harris to skip the Al Smith dinner”
“Why it won’t sway voters”
Rigged pic.twitter.com/tuJB6JnqRy
— Arynne Wexler (@ArynneWexler) October 13, 2024
Former President Donald Trump, in contrast to Harris, announced on September 21 his intention to attend the 79th Al Smith dinner in person.
On September 24, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, expressed his disappointment regarding Harris’s absence from the event. The most recent presidential candidate to forgo attendance was Walter Mondale, the Democratic opponent of President Ronald Reagan, who opted not to participate in 1984.
