Vice President Kamala Harris will skip this year’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York, breaking with presidential tradition so she can campaign instead in a battleground state.
The dinner benefitting Catholic Charities traditionally has been used to promote collegiality and good humor, with presidential candidates from both parties appearing on the same night and trading barbs.
A campaign official confirmed to CBS News that Harris will not attend in an effort to maximize her time in battleground states ahead of Election Day. The official added that Harris would welcome the opportunity to attend as president if she is elected in November.
The decision was first reported by CNN.
Donald Trump ‘s campaign did not immediately respond to a question about whether he would attend the dinner. His 2016 appearance at the dinner invited boos when many in the audience felt he crossed a line when he called Democrat Hillary Clinton corrupt and claimed she hated Catholics.