ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris focused on the former president Donald Trump 's comments suggested the U.S. military could be deployed to deal with “the enemy from within” as the two presidential candidates took the fight to battleground Pennsylvania on opposite ends of the state on Monday.

Harris, speaking at her rally in northwestern Pennsylvania, called Trump a serious threat to American democracy who is “seeking unchecked power.”

“He considers anyone who doesn’t support him or bend to his will to be an enemy of our country,” Harris said after playing a clip of the commentary on the jumbo screen at her rally at an arena in Erie. “That’s one of the reasons I believe so strongly that a second Trump term would be a huge risk for America and dangerous.”

Democrat Harris and Republican Trump have become fixtures in the country's biggest battleground state in 2024. It was Harris' 10th visit to Pennsylvania this campaign season, and Trump's Monday town hall in suburban Philadelphia came after visits to Scranton and Reading last week.

Harris highlights examples of Trump's increasingly “unstable and bumbling” behavior. It's part of their effort to win over a small universe of undecided voters and even a small slice of traditionally Republican voters in the battle for Pennsylvania and six other closely contested states that are expected to decide who wins next month's election. to split off.

She argued that Trump's comments in a Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures” interview were the latest example of threatening remarks from the former president designed to alarm Americans about what a possible second Trump term might look like.

Trump made the comment in response to a question about “outside agitators” potentially disrupting Election Day. Focusing on what he said is an enemy closer to home.

“I think the bigger problem is the enemy within,” Trump said. He added: “We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left-wing crazy people. And I think they're the big ones – and the National Guard, if necessary, the military should be able to handle it quite easily, or if it's really necessary, the military, because they can't let that happen.”

Trump's vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance, defended Trump's comments during a campaign stop in Minneapolis early Monday.

“Is it a justified use of these assets when there is rioting, looting and burning of cities? Of course it is. Right?” Vance told reporters. “I think the question of whether it's a justified use of assets depends on what actually happens.”

Harris and Trump have thrown themselves into the race for Pennsylvania.

On his way to the presidency in 2016, Trump beat Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania by more than 40,000 votes. But Scranton native Joe Biden beat Trump in the state four years ago by about 80,000 votes.

Both sides believe the race for Pennsylvania could be even closer this time.

Trump spoke at a town hall in suburban Oaks on Monday. In response to a man who said his dream of owning a home was out of reach, Trump said building codes in some places were too expensive. He reiterated his promise to increase U.S. oil production, which he said would lower costs even though domestic production was already at its peak Record highs.

“We're going to hit the ground running, we're going to have so much energy and we're going to lower prices,” Trump said.

He also claimed that government data from crime statistics to unemployment numbers were “fake,” claiming the numbers were manipulated to help incumbent Democrats.

Trump cut short his speech after being interrupted twice by medical emergencies and turned the town hall around to a concert instead. After the second incident, Trump talked for a few minutes and then called for music. Then he stood on stage – sometimes swaying – while the music played.

Harris' campaign called Erie a “pivot” area, a Democratic-majority city of about 94,000 residents that borders suburbs and rural areas with significant Republican populations. Erie County is often cited as one of the state's most reliable flagship regions, where the electorate has a decidedly moderate voting record. Trump visited Erie on September 29th.

Harris also spoke about early voting during her rally. Postal voting is in full swing in the state, where around 7 million people are expected to cast their ballots the presidential race.

“If you have already received your ballot in the mail, please do not wait,” Harris urged her supporters. “Fill it out and send it back today or tomorrow. But please get it out.”

Earlier, she stopped by a newly opened cafe and record store in Erie as she continues to advocate for the support of black men.

The visit to LegendErie Records and Coffee House, a Black-owned small business, came after her campaign unveiled a plan earlier Monday to provide more economic and other opportunities for Black men. The campaign is trying increase the reach to black men, a key voting bloc that worries some Democrats about a possible lack of enthusiasm.

Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes, the most of any swing state, have attracted by far the most attention compared to the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns. Including Monday's scheduled events, they are reported to have made 46 stops in the state Associated Press tracking the public events of the campaigns.

Michigan, with 33 visits, and Wisconsin, with 29, are the second most visited states, showing that both campaigns are focused on winning states that were part of the Democrats' so-called “blue wall” until Trump emerged as the Republican standard-bearer.

Democrats have won three straight elections for governor of Pennsylvania and both current U.S. senators are Democrats, but the state's legislature is sharply divided.

Trump rally attendee Tom Bonanno said he believes enthusiasm for Trump is higher this year than in the former president's two previous campaigns.

“I feel a change because the economy affects everyone,” Bonanno said. “It won't just be, you feel joy or happiness or whatever drives them. It’s about the economy again.”

Luther Manus, 97, a veteran of World War II and Vietnam, left Harris' rally Monday night impressed with the candidate but wary of what she might accomplish in a polarized Washington if she wins.

“I think she’s great,” Manus said as the arena emptied. But he added: “If they give her a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House, she will be able to do a lot of what she said she would do. Without that, she will have a problem, just like Obama and Biden.”

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Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Weissert reported from Erie, Pennsylvania. Associated Press journalists Tassanee Vejpongsa in Oaks, Pennsylvania; Carolyn Thompson in Erie, Pa.; Aamer Madhani in Washington and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.