Vice President Kamala Harris has made the rare decision to skip the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City, a key event ahead of the November election.

This gala, known for bringing together political nominees for light-hearted roasts and charity, will be held on Oct. 17 without Harris in what will be the first time in years a presidential candidate will have skipped the Al Smith dinner, with the VP opting to remain on the campaign trail instead, as the Daily Wire reports.

The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, an annual charity event that typically features nominees from both major political parties, has a long tradition of political humor and bipartisan camaraderie.

This year's event, which will host 1,500 guests, is already sold out. Despite this, Harris has chosen to skip it to focus on her campaign.

Campaign Trail Focuses on Voter Outreach

Harris' campaign noted that the vice president's decision to skip the dinner stems from her commitment to reaching voters directly. A spokesperson for her campaign stated, "Vice President Harris is ready for another opportunity to share a stage with Donald Trump," referring to what she hoped would be another CNN debate.

Historically, the Al Smith Dinner has seen presidential candidates make appearances in the months leading up to an election.

Even in 2020, both Donald Trump and Joe Biden skipped in-person attendance due to the pandemic but participated through video statements. Harris' decision to skip altogether stands out as she continues to emphasize her stated belief in the importance of direct voter engagement.

Trump Criticizes Harris' Debate Decisions

In a twist to the campaign season, Harris has offered to debate Trump on CNN on Oct. 23. This announcement came after she initially rejected several debate invitations from Trump earlier in the campaign season.

Harris' attempt to insist on a debate now, so close to Election Day, has drawn both interest and criticism.

In a statement, Harris’ campaign explained the unprecedented nature of the debate schedule this year, noting, “It would be unprecedented in modern history for there to just be one general election debate.” However, this change of heart from Harris comes after Trump had previously agreed to debates hosted by Fox News and NBC News, both of which Harris declined.

Trump, in response, expressed frustration with the timing of this new debate agreement. Speaking at a rally, he said, “She’s done one debate. I’ve done two. It’s too late to do another.” Trump also pointed out that his earlier debate invitations were either ignored or rejected by Harris' team. He added, "I waited and waited, and they turned it down. But now she wants to do a debate right before the election with CNN because she’s losing badly."

Unprecedented Schedule Adds Pressure

The CNN debate, were it to take place, would have marked the second and final debate between Harris and Trump. Harris previously participated in a general election debate on Sept. 10, hosted by ABC News, in which both candidates exchanged heated arguments. Trump had pushed for additional debates on Fox News on Sept. 4 and NBC News on Sept. 25, but neither event materialized due to Harris' refusal to accept.

The timing of the debate now being proposed by Harris, scheduled less than two weeks before Election Day, has drawn attention due to what might have been its impact on undecided voters. Trump's campaign, while critical of Harris' debate strategy, has continued to focus on rallying his base ahead of November.

Harris’ Absence at Al Smith Dinner Breaks Tradition

By skipping the Al Smith Dinner, Harris becomes the first major-party nominee in recent memory to forgo the event for reasons unrelated to public health concerns. In 2020, both Trump and Biden skipped the event, but this was due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with both candidates offering video statements in their absence.

The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, named after the first Catholic presidential nominee, has traditionally been a platform for political figures to display humor and humility, even amid the tensions of a heated election season. In 2016, Trump attended the dinner and used the occasion to deliver sharp critiques of his then-opponent, Hillary Clinton, a moment that underscored the political undertones of the event.

Despite her absence, Harris' team is focused on other campaign strategies, including attempting to push another debate against Trump and further engagement with voters across the country. With the November election drawing closer, both campaigns are expected to intensify their efforts in the final stretch.

Conclusion

Vice President Kamala Harris' decision to skip the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner ahead of the 2024 election has set her apart from recent presidential candidates.

Instead of attending the sold-out charity event, Harris has chosen to focus on the campaign trail, prioritizing voter outreach.