MOON, Pennsylvania — A series of transformations have emerged as Vice President Kamala Harris assumed her role as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

High-profile Black female artists like Beyoncé and Lauryn Hill have taken the place of Biden campaign songs at events. Harris opted for a bus tour through western Pennsylvania instead of flying from Pittsburgh on Sunday.

In a nostalgic nod to her earlier campaign, she donned Chuck Taylors for the journey.

The Converse sneakers were a trademark of Harris during her first presidential run five years ago, and she frequently wore them while campaigning for vice president. However, they faded from her public appearances after she took on her current role.

Yet now, as she embarks on a campaign trail that includes Milwaukee and Chicago, her beloved footwear has made a comeback. This is just one of many ways Harris is marking her presence in the campaign she took over from President Joe Biden.

While she has predominantly supported Biden’s policies — reaffirming several of his economic initiatives last week — she and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, are discovering ways to infuse their distinct styles into the campaign.

Harris and Walz Campaign Through Western Pennsylvania

On Sunday, they arrived at an airport hangar to a warm reception from supporters. Their schedule included visits to a phone bank, a firehouse, a football practice, and a local restaurant, along with a stop at a Sheetz gas station.

At their campaign office in Rochester, Harris, Walz, and their spouses surprised volunteers by calling them on their personal cell phones.

Afterward, they addressed a gathering of volunteers standing in front of a handmade “Pennsylvania for Harris Walz” sign.

“Most of us have much more in common than the things that divide us,” Harris shared with a tent full of 73 volunteers. “This is the essence of our campaign.”

This marked the first time that Harris and Walz campaigned together with their spouses since his selection as her running mate. Between stops, they got familiar with one another while traveling on their newly wrapped blue-and-white bus showcasing their names.

At one location, Harris brought along two burnt almond torts from Prantl’s Bakery to share with firefighters. At a Sheetz gas station in Moon, she picked up Doritos, claiming they’re her favorite snack.

During their visit to Aliquippa, they also stopped by a local high school’s football practice.

Seizing a prime opportunity, Walz, a past football coach, told the athletes that politics mirrors sports: everyone collaborates towards a common goal. Harris spoke about leadership, emphasizing that the players serve as role models for their classmates.

“Being a role model is challenging,” she remarked. “Welcome to the role model club.”

Second Trip to a Crucial State

This marked Harris’s second visit to Pennsylvania within a week. As Pennsylvania possesses 19 electoral votes, it is classified as a critical state in the upcoming 2024 presidential election for both political parties.

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, who is up for reelection this fall, joined her on the initial leg of the tour. However, Governor Josh Shapiro was absent. He had previously participated in an event with Harris and Walz in early August after she chose Walz as her running mate but did not attend the events right before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

In a recent poll conducted by the New York Times/Siena College, Harris is in a tight race with Trump in Pennsylvania, leading by two percentage points among registered voters.

“I believe we need to earn everyone’s vote, which requires engaging with communities and people where they live,” she shared on Sunday while discussing the state.

Having just begun her candidacy less than a month ago, Harris is focusing on solidifying Democratic backing. Over the past week, she has brought on new staff and has started outlining her economic plans. She mentioned that she has additional details to share regarding her agenda soon.

With an accelerated campaign, she has under three months to persuade voters to support her. A recent CBS News survey indicated that Harris holds a three-point lead over Trump as of Sunday.

“I certainly view us as the underdog,” she communicated to reporters on Sunday afternoon. “We have considerable work ahead of us to gain the support of the American public.”