Harris blasts 'offensive' Trump for remarks on women

PHOENIX, United States — Kamala Harris on Thursday slammed Donald Trump for what she called "very offensive" remarks about women, putting abortion rights back in the spotlight as her rival hurled more insults and denigrated migrants during the election's final stretch.

With each candidate seeking even the slightest of advantages, they took their knife-edge White House race to western battleground states, homing in on immigration and wooing Latinos five days before voting concludes November 5.

Trump, dressed in a black overcoat and black "Make America Great Again" cap, painted a dark picture of immigration run amok as he addressed supporters in border state New Mexico, saying migrants are "unleashing a violent killing spree all across America."

As the Democratic vice president and Republican former president chase one another through the seven swing states expected to decide the election, Harris is conveying a more upbeat message, with pop icon Jennifer Lopez set to bring her star power to the stage in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday evening.

Trump too rallies in Nevada, with the rivals also visiting Arizona, where Harris spoke in Phoenix and Trump holds a scheduled interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Harris targeted Trump over his remarks when he told a Wednesday rally he wanted to "protect" American women "whether the women like it or not."

She branded the comments "offensive to everybody."

At her Phoenix rally, she said Trump "does not believe women should have the agency and authority to make decisions about their own bodies."

Trump is "the same man who said women should be punished for their choices," she said. "But we trust women," she said to cheers and chants of "Si se puede" ("Yes we can").

Reproductive rights have served as a rallying cry for Democrats -- and an Achilles heel of sorts for Trump -- since the conservative-dominated US Supreme Court ended the federal right to abortion in 2022.

Polling for this year's election shows a wide gender gap, with women voters tilting toward Harris, and Trump earning more support from men, so abortion could play a determining role in the outcome.

Both campaigns have been jolted this week after