Pennsylvania college students reluctantly endorse Kamala Harris: 'She's a hypocrite'

PITTSBURGH — Kamala Harris is campaigning to move forward, repeatedly telling her supporters, “We will not back down.” But college students here don't believe that — and they're not alone.

“She is going back,” University of Pittsburgh freshman Phil LeRaris told The Post. “He's a cop,” he said. “She's saying pro-wall things.”

vice president used to call Former President Donald Trump's border wall is a “midlife waste project.” Now running for president, Harris has promised to sign a bipartisan border bill that would continue construction of the fence.

It's one of his changes that is causing concern among progressives — especially young voters who are typically a strong base of Democratic support.

“The left feels isolated in a world that feels increasingly right-wing,” said Lerris, a 19-year-old resident of Indianapolis.

Standing on the opposite end of the Quad from where conservative activist Charlie Kirk will debate Pitt students that same day, Lleris said he will vote for Harris, but he's not too thrilled about the prospect.

“I will vote reluctantly, because I hate Trump,” he said.

Although Gen Z voters are more liberal than older Americans, 43% do not recognize With any major political party.

Harris campaign has tried to connect with these young voters With “Brat Summer” Memes and celebrity endorsement taylor swift's choice And Billie Eilish.

But surveys show Harris doesn't have the same support from young voters that President Biden had in 2020 — which could be key to winning Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes.

Students told The Post that one reason for this was the veep's sudden transfer to the center.

“He's very liberal,” said Kush Rajeshi, another Pitt freshman. “Like a show of change that's not going to happen.”

In her play for the White House, Harris retreated from its progressive pastDropping its support for Medicare for All and adopting issues like lifting restrictions and border security instead,

“He is being promoted as a ray of hope for minorities because he is a minority, but he is a hypocrite,” Rajeshi said.

Rajeshi, 18, who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area, is familiar with Harris's tenure as California Attorney General, in which she sent more than 1,800 people Going to jail for marijuana offenses.

While he said he “hated” the former Hawaii representative. Tulsi Gabbard, Rajeshi acknowledged former Democrat lower down Harris's record as a prosecutor In the 2019 Democratic primary debate Clearly made an impact on progressive voters.

Rajeshi also believes that Trump's attacks on Harris by labeling her a Marxist and an extremist liberal will help her campaign.

“They're calling him all these radical things, which he's not,” he said. “They're making it out to be much cooler than it is.”

Rajeshi will also cast her vote for Harris but said she sympathizes with those who are not going to vote.

“I don't want abortion to be banned,” he explained.

Other Pitt students who spoke to The Post agreed that while they don't like his choices, they think Harris is the lesser of two evils.

“Of the two options, that's the best,” said freshman Emilia Chuhrn, with a “Legalized Marijuana” sticker in hand.

Although she also doesn't like Harris' record as a prosecutor, she supports the veep on immigration and abortion rights.

“I don't think you should idolize these candidates,” he said.

“If you're trying to do this Democratic big-tent type of campaign, there's really only so much you can do for young voters,” Luke S. said, referring to his peers ages 18 to 24. group that trends more democratic than any other age group.

Although she's not a fan of Harris' plan to reduce immigration, the 18-year-old Baltimore native told The Post that it's important to have a strong Border Patrol.

Regarding Harris's economic plans, Luke said her proposed grocery price cap could be bad for the economy, but she wants the Biden administration's aggressive antitrust actions to continue and “break up the grocery industry to create local competition.” Completely stuck to his promise. ,

When Luke heard those plans, he said, “It gave me some hope.”

Luke said Harris's early campaign tried to attract young voters with a “fun personality”.

But he believes the vice president's outreach to young voters has evolved from memes and dances to a more issue-based approach.

“Now she's putting forward more real issues instead of coconut-tree jokes.”

Still, he wants Harris to take a tough stance against Israel in the war in Gaza.

“I don't think we should be funding the apartheid state,” he said.

Luke tries to disrupt Charlie Kirk's campus tour by chopping up his electric guitar before closing time.

But this punk rocker is more excited than his peers to pull the lever for Harris on Election Day.

He admitted, “I'm more excited to vote for him than the average person in my political constituency.”