Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and Philadelphia Mayor Sherrell sign autographs and speak to workers and patrons during a campaign stop at Philadelphia’s famous 4th Street Delicatessen on October 23, 2024.・Parker (right). (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris stopped by Philadelphia’s famous Fourth Street Deli on Wednesday. The deli has long been a haven for elected officials, and is probably better known for politics than pastrami and other lunch staples.
She is in town to film a CNN town hall starting at 9 p.m. EDT, less than two weeks before her race against former Republican President Donald Trump. The vice president will take questions in front of an audience of undecided voters as part of what was once envisioned as a debate with President Trump. Harris said she would participate in the CNN debate, but the two sides never reached a formal agreement.
Harris’ first stop was a home-style Jewish deli known for its oversized sandwiches. Famous 4th Street opened in 1923 and boasts homemade smoked pastrami, pickled corned beef, and pickles.
The venue was packed with what Harris called “super volunteers,” and Philadelphia Mayor Sherrell Parker was also in attendance. The vice president paused to take a selfie with several volunteers and Parker. When one man yelled, “We’re going to win,” Harris responded, “We can win.”
She then became even more superstitious in addressing a larger crowd, declaring, “Knock on wood, God willing, we’re going to win.”
The vice president promised to help the nation “turn the page” in a time of division, adding, “Thanks to your work, we are building communities and building coalitions.”
Since the 1970s, it’s been a political tradition for politicians to gather at delis on Election Day to chat with supporters and the media while eating lunch, black-and-white cookies, or both.
Harris eventually signed the order and picked up a pre-ordered to-go bag containing a pastrami sandwich on rye and a slice of German chocolate cake.
