New polls show Harris ahead of Trump
According to new polls published over the weekend, US Vice President Kamala Harris is ahead of her Republican rival Donald Trump in the race for the White House.
Former President Donald Trump said Monday he will attend a historic charity dinner, while Vice President Kamala Harris plans not to attend.
The annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a white-tie charity event in New York City, is known for prominent politicians poking fun at each other and current issues.
The Harris team confirmed to USA TODAY that the Democratic presidential candidate will not attend the dinner planned for October 17 because they want to focus on the swing states so close to the election.
The campaign team highlighted her commitment to engaging Catholic voters and said Harris would attend the event if elected president.
Trump sharply criticized Harris at Truth Social, saying it was an honor to attend and it was “sad but not surprising that (Harris) decided not to attend.”
“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,” Trump’s Truth Social post said.
More: Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin are on Trump’s campaign schedule this week
Who is Al Smith?
Alfred E. Smith, after whom the foundation is named, was the former governor of New York and the first Catholic to be nominated as a presidential candidate by a major party.
Smith was elected governor for four terms between 1918 and 1926.
In 1928, Smith was the Democratic nominee for president. According to the foundation’s website, he remained true to his New York City political roots and advocated for urban issues during his campaign.
Smith lost the 1928 election by a landslide to former President Herbert Hoover.
Charity dinner by Al Smith known for humor and Catholic roots
The Al Smith dinner benefits Catholic Charities. Smith was known for his sense of humor, and speakers at the event often attacked themselves or others.
In 2016, Trump and his opponent Hillary Clinton traded attacks, but some in the crowd booed Trump because they felt he had gone too far.
In 2017, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan came under fire for his relationship with Trump, according to CNN, and he recited the prayer at Trump’s inauguration.
In 2020, President Joe Biden and Trump gave virtual speeches in which they largely refrained from jokes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden is the second Catholic American president after John F. Kennedy.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan hosts the Al Smith dinner
Actor and comedian Jim Gaffigan, whose Catholic faith is often mentioned in his jokes, is this year’s master of ceremonies at the Al Smith dinner.
In 2020, Gaffigan attacked Trump on Twitter, now known as X, calling him “a liar and a criminal.”
“Remember that Trump is responsible for everything he accuses the Democrats of. Don’t let the socialist slurs distract you from the fact that he is a fascist who doesn’t believe in the law,” he said in a post.
USA TODAY reached out to Gaffigan’s representatives for this article.
Contributors: William Cummings, Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY
