ATLANTA/PHILADELPHIA: With the US presidential election just over two weeks away, Democrat Kamala Harris visited two churches on Sunday while her Republican rival, Donald Trump, visited another kind of American temple: a McDonald鈥檚, where he again accused Harris of lying about having previously worked at the fast-food chain.
Both candidates were scrambling for votes in the most competitive states, with Harris, the US vice president, appealing to early voters in Georgia and Trump, the former president, campaigning in Pennsylvania ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Harris highlighted the heroism of those who responded to Hurricane Helene, which caused deaths and destruction in Florida earlier this month. She drew a contrast between her vision for America and the harsh rhetoric of the current political climate, although she did not mention Trump by name.
鈥淎t this point across our nation, what we do see are some trying to deepen division among us, spread hate, sow fear and cause chaos,鈥� she told thousands of congregants at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in Stonecrest, Georgia.
Some measured the strength of a leader as 鈥渨ho you beat down鈥� instead of being guided by 鈥渒indness and love,鈥� she said, urging congregants to vote for a more compassionate future.
Harris was more direct in an interview with MSNBC when asked about Trump鈥檚 comments at an earlier rally in Pennsylvania in which he called her a 鈥渟hit vice president,鈥� telling civil rights leader Al Sharpton: 鈥淭he American people deserve so much better.鈥�
At a McDonald鈥檚 in suburban Philadelphia, Trump removed his suit jacket, put on a black and yellow apron and cooked batches of french fries, something he said he had wanted to do 鈥渁ll my life.鈥�
The former president dipped wire baskets of potatoes in sizzling oil before salting them and handing them out to some of his supporters through the drive-through window of the restaurant, which had been closed to the general public. Thousands of people lined the street opposite the restaurant to watch.

鈥淚 like this job,鈥� said Trump, whose adoration for fast food has been well chronicled. 鈥淚鈥檓 having a lot of fun here.鈥�
Trump has said the McDonald鈥檚 visit was intended in part as a jab at Harris, who says she worked at the fast-food chain during her college years in California. Trump claims Harris never worked there but has provided no evidence to back that up.
Harris spokesperson Ian Sams said the stunt was a sign of the real-estate mogul鈥檚 desperation.
鈥淎ll he knows how to do is lie,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e can鈥檛 understand what it鈥檚 like to have a summer job because he was handed millions on a silver platter, only to blow it.鈥�
The Harris campaign said Trump鈥檚 visit also belied his opposition to an increase in the federal minimum wage and his support for a rule that could make it more difficult for workers to win legal claims against the parent company if a franchise owner violated minimum-wage and overtime laws.

鈥楬appy birthday鈥�
Harris, who was raised in the teachings of the Black church and sang in a church choir, marked her 60th birthday on Sunday while campaigning outside of Atlanta.
At Divine Faith Ministries International in Jonesboro, Georgia, music icon Stevie Wonder performed, singing his hit 鈥淗igher Ground鈥� and a version of Bob Marley鈥檚 鈥淩edemption Song.鈥�

Asked about polls showing a lack of enthusiasm for her candidacy among Black men who have been a reliable voting bloc for Democrats, Harris told Sharpton she was working to earn their votes as well.
鈥淭here鈥檚 this narrative about what kind of support we are receiving from Black men that is just not panning out in reality,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淏ecause why would Black men be any different than any other demographic of voter? They expect that you earn their vote.鈥�
Harris will need strong results in the majority non-white cities of Detroit and Atlanta and their surrounding suburbs to repeat President Joe Biden鈥檚 2020 wins in Michigan and Georgia.
At a campaign event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Trump extended birthday wishes to Harris, drawing boos from his crowd.
鈥淗appy birthday, and many more, and I mean it,鈥� Trump said, although he continued to criticize Harris鈥檚 policies and speculating that his opponent may have 鈥渁 cognitive problem.鈥�