Kamala Harris to deliver pre-recorded message at Al Smith dinner after refusing to attend

Harris had declined her invitation and would have been the first presidential candidate in 40 years to miss the annual event – failed Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale being the last one to skip the event that honors the first Roman Catholic nominated to run for president by a major party. The dinner also raises money for Catholic charities to support children’s medical and financial needs.

“Vice President Harris will appear via a pre-recorded video at tonight’s dinner,” Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, told the DCNF.

“Although we traditionally have had the privilege of hosting two presidential candidates, unfortunately Vice President Kamala Harris is still unable to join us this year due to conflicts with her campaign schedule,” Mary Erdoes, vice chair of the Al Smith Foundation’s board of directors, wrote in an email Friday which was obtained by the DCNF. “Please know that we exhausted every possible effort and connection we had to try to get her there, but to no avail. While we will miss her on the Dais, she will be joining us on screen, likely via video.”

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump will be going to the dinner in person and castigated Harris for initially refusing to have anything to do with the event.

Trump posted on Truth Social, "It will be an honor to attend the SOLD OUT 79th ANNUAL AL SMITH DINNER on October 17th in New York. It will be great to see so many wonderful people there, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan. We know the Spirit of Al Smith, the first Catholic Nominee of a Major Party, and John F. Kennedy, the FIRST Catholic President, will be in the room with us that night."

Harris’ change of mind might have something to do with her declining support from Catholics in battleground states, where Trump leads the vice president by 50 percent to 45 percent.