Vice President Kamala Harris’ advisers carefully considered the location for her final major campaign address, aiming for a venue that symbolized the weighty choice before voters and projected the promise of her prospective office.

They selected the Ellipse, a historic park where former President Donald Trump rallied supporters on January 6, 2021, with a view of the White House—a location they felt captured both gravity and optimism.

“This place serves as a potent reminder of the immense impact a president can have, for good or ill, on the nation’s future and people’s lives,” stated campaign chair Jennifer O’Malley Dillon.

She emphasized, “It’s also a vivid symbol of Donald Trump’s legacy of using power for self-interest, spreading division, chaos, and inciting a mob to protect his power at the country’s expense.”

For Harris, balancing between highlighting her rival’s authoritarian tendencies and promoting a positive vision for her potential presidency is a central theme in the final phase of her campaign.

Tuesday’s high-profile speech offers one of the last major opportunities for the vice president to connect with a crucial demographic within the electorate—known internally as “conflicted voters.” These are voters who have concerns about Trump’s conduct but are not yet fully persuaded that Harris is the candidate of change capable of guiding the country forward. Although it may be ambitious to expect one speech to substantially impact the polls, her campaign aides suggest it aims to present a clear contrast to Trump’s controversial rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Originally, this address was not meant as a rebuttal to that rally; however, the timing adds a unique layer of political strategy.

The speech, according to insiders, will emphasize reproductive freedom and an “opportunity economy”—core themes Harris has consistently championed. Despite the somber connotations of the setting, tied to the events of January 6—where Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, leading to violence—Harris’ advisers indicate the speech will maintain a hopeful and optimistic tone.

If there’s a central message Harris aims to drive home, it’s that her victory would turn the page on Trump’s divisive legacy. With the White House only 500 yards to the north, the location allows Harris to outline her vision for America, primarily focused on the economy, a leading issue for most voters.

As the campaign enters its final week, the speech isn’t expected to introduce entirely new policy points; instead, it will frame the stakes of the election and underscore the significant differences between Harris and Trump.

“Vice President Harris aims for her Ellipse speech to highlight the chaotic legacy of Trump while emphasizing her own vision and promise for stability and progress.”

Standing on the Ellipse, Harris will bring her ongoing defense of democracy to life in a location that highlights the extent of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Her advisers also believe the venue serves to remind voters how a second term could further threaten democratic stability.

“In my speech tomorrow night, I’ll repeat what I’ve said before: there’s a big difference between Trump and me,” Harris emphasized on Monday. “If he is elected, he’ll start his term in the Oval Office working on his enemies list. If I am elected president, which I fully intend to be, I’ll be working on behalf of the American people to execute my policy to-do list from Day 1.”

Preparations were underway on Monday ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech, including the installation of tall black fencing to create a secure perimeter around the Ellipse. An amended permit for the event indicated that 40,000 attendees are anticipated, with spillover onto the National Mall—marking Harris’s first major campaign speech outdoors in Washington. Most of Harris’s 2024 rallies have taken place in arenas or stadiums in battleground states.

The vice president crafted her remarks on the economy, lowering prescription drug costs, and her middle-class agenda during her campaign stops in Michigan on Monday, as aides confirmed. These remarks are part of one of her biggest speeches since the Democratic convention. Although her message centers on economic issues, she is also expected to address Trump’s character, creating a sharp contrast between their visions.

This speech is seen as a bookend to Harris’s campaign journey that began with her powerful remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, just after President Biden exited the race. “Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency,” she asserted, emphasizing the link between a strong middle class and a strong America.

Aides have compared her Tuesday address to the closing arguments Harris delivered as a prosecutor early in her career. Here, she hopes to tie her vision into a compelling case for voters.

Democratic strategies for Harris’s campaign have varied, with debate over whether to highlight Trump’s character and threat to democracy or to focus more on pocketbook issues. Last week, the super PAC supporting Harris’s 2024 candidacy raised concerns that the campaign’s closing message focused too heavily on Trump’s “fascism” rather than her economic plans and promise to protect reproductive rights—key issues that could resonate more with voters in this final stretch.

Harris’ advisers believe moderate voters may be swayed by the connection between Trump and authoritarian tactics, particularly highlighted by former top aide John Kelly. The Harris campaign sees the final days as a key opportunity to channel voter frustration over Trump’s chaotic politics, contrasting it with a clear alternative that she offers.

Since her rise to the top of the ticket in July, Harris’ campaign has strategically used the presidential platform and powerful visuals to establish her as a credible, historic choice for commander-in-chief. A backdrop featuring the White House and National Mall underscored this message one week before Election Day, mirroring an August rally in Detroit where Harris, in front of Air Force Two, addressed thousands.

The prime-time speech from the Ellipse is aimed at easing concerns about Harris’ focus on Trump’s disqualification while highlighting her presidential vision. A top Democratic adviser noted, “We don’t have the luxury of only discussing her plans as president—this isn’t an ordinary election.”