By Kamala Harris loves to laugh, but it turns out she might not have a sense of humor. The vice president will not be attending the 2024 Al Smith charity dinner in New York, marking a significant departure from a longstanding tradition followed by major presidential candidates. Instead of attending the high-profile event, Harris will focus on intensifying her campaign efforts in critical battleground states, with Election Day just three weeks away.
The Al Smith Dinner, an annual fundraiser benefiting Catholic Charities, is widely known for its spirit of collegiality, often providing a rare moment of levity during election seasons. Candidates from both major political parties typically share the stage, exchanging light-hearted jokes while raising funds for charitable causes. Despite the tradition, Harris’ campaign has prioritized her presence in key states likely to decide the 2024 election. A campaign official, speaking anonymously, confirmed this strategy to CNN.
The New York Post called Harris’ refusal to attend the dinner “pathetic.”
Ouch: It seems Kamala Harris is so afraid of having to be spontaneous in public that’s she’s skipping this year’s Al Smith dinner on Oct. 17.
A charity event that raises millions for the city’s unfortunate, the dinner has hosted the major-party rivals every four years (with just two exceptions) since 1960, when Richard Nixon dared to join John Kennedy, the first Catholic presidential nominee since Al Smith himself, on Catholic “turf.”
The candidates are supposed to deliver light jabs at each other in their dueling addresses, which plainly can be written in advance — but the program apparently has too many risks of being called upon for spontaneous reactions for Harris to agree.
The Democratic nominee has done vastly fewer non-Teleprompter events than any past major-party candidate; one of her allies claims Harris is just too busy — though that’s never stopped a sitting president from attending.
Harris is infamously known for not being able to handle unscripted social settings. In 2022, the vice president was asked to attend a dinner party on behalf of the president and required a practice run to be able to handle it.
She is missing a dinner no presidential candidate has missed in 40 years because she is insecure and awful in social settings. pic.twitter.com/TWEYbTbrc8
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) September 23, 2024
It remains uncertain whether former President Donald Trump will attend the event. His appearance in 2016 drew significant attention when his remarks targeting opponent Hillary Clinton — whom he accused of hating Catholics and called “corrupt” — were met with boos from the audience. Trump’s campaign has not yet responded to inquiries about his participation in this year’s event.
Named after Al Smith, a former New York governor and the first Roman Catholic presidential nominee in 1928, the Al Smith Dinner has been a political staple for decades. Hosted by the Archdiocese of New York, it serves as a prominent fundraising event, raising millions for good causes.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, plays a central role in the event. Dolan has previously expressed concerns about the Democratic Party’s stance on issues of importance to Catholic voters.
Although Harris will miss this year’s gala, the event continues a tradition dating back to 1960, when John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon attended during their presidential campaigns. Despite her absence, the evening will likely maintain its reputation as a major political and charitable gathering, drawing attention to key issues and raising significant funds for Catholic charities.
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