Vice President Kamala Harris wasn’t able to attend Thursday night’s Al Smith benefit dinner in New York, sending a video instead, while Donald Trump attended in person. Named after the first Catholic presidential candidate, the benefit dinner, hosted this year by Jim Gaffigan , is a longtime stop on the campaign circuit where candidates typically roast each other. Harris, who was campaigning in Wisconsin, posted a video in which Molly Shannon appears as her “Saturday Night Live” character Mary Katherine Gallagher, a Catholic schoolgirl sporting a plaid skirt and uniform blouse.
Trump said he hoped Gaffigan’s gig as vice presidential candidate Tim Walz turns out to be a short one. “I’d like to thank our M.C.
this evening, Jim Gaffigan,” Trump said. “Most recently, Jim has been playing Tim Walz on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ That’ll be a very short gig, Jim, but it was fun while it lasted!.
.. Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t here himself.
But don’t worry, he’ll say that he was.” Meanwhile Gaffigan got in his own dig while mentioning Trump’s remarks about immigrants, saying “This is the second time grabbing a kitty has been part of a campaign issue.” “The Al Smith Dinner provides a rare opportunity to set aside partisanship,” Harris says in the video as the flighty Catholic schoolgirl character begins to run back and forth behind her.
“It’s an important tradition that I’m so proud to be a part of,” Harris continues, inviting Shannon.