In a departure from longstanding tradition, Vice President Kamala Harris will forgo this year's Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York to focus her efforts on campaigning in a key swing state. The event, which benefits Catholic Charities, has historically been a platform for presidential candidates to showcase their wit and camaraderie, often sharing the stage to exchange humorous jabs.

According to a campaign representative speaking with CBS News, Harris's absence is strategic, aiming to optimize her presence in critical electoral states as the election nears. The spokesperson also mentioned that Harris would be open to attending the dinner as president should she win the upcoming election. Meanwhile, there was no immediate reply from Donald Trump's campaign when asked if he plans to attend the prestigious white-tie affair set for October 17.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is closely associated with the dinner and its proceedings, has previously expressed disappointment with Democrats through a Wall Street Journal op-ed titled "The Democrats Abandon Catholics" in 2018. Named after Al Smith, the first Roman Catholic presidential candidate from a major party and former governor of New York who lost the 1928 election to Herbert Hoover, the dinner underscores a message of unity and bipartisan camaraderie among political rivals while raising significant funds for charitable causes.

This tradition of participation by presidential candidates dates back to when Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy made appearances in 1960. However, controversies have arisen; notably in 1996 when then-President Bill Clinton and his challenger Bob Dole were not invited due to Clinton’s veto of a bill banning late-term abortions. Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden—Biden being Catholic—addressed the fundraiser virtually in 2020 amidst the pandemic-related shift online, marking a tone shift away from humor towards more solemn appeals directed at Catholic voters.

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Trump's speech at the dinner in 2016 initially contained light-hearted jests about figures like Chuck Schumer but quickly escalated into sharp criticisms and personal attacks against Hillary Clinton. This marked departure from traditionally light-hearted speeches underscored tensions within American politics that have occasionally overshadowed the event's intended spirit of unity and charity.

​​​​​​​How do you feel about Vice President Kamala Harris choosing to prioritize campaigning over attending the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, and what impact do you think this decision might have on her campaign?

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