A critical remark by Republican Vice Presidential Candidate J-D Vance has fired up cat-loving Democrats in many places, including Tallahassee. A local cat cafe became a get-out-the-vote phone bank for the Harris/Walz campaign on Saturday, August 17.
Even though she said she's allergic to cats, progressive advocate Barbara DeVane showed up to encourage the phone bank volunteers.
"Pick up those phones, cat ladies and keep purring and keep this message going!" she exclaimed to laughter and cheers.
Tally Cat Cafe owner Courtney Kendrick said Vance's comment calling Harris supporters "childless cat ladies" was helping motivate Democrats.
"I feel like this phrase and insult - if they want to think it's an insult - has been attempted for a couple years now. And I think they're trying to push it again and we're just tired hearing it."
![Several of the cafe's resident cats seemed unimpressed by all the unusual activity.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/50b940b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1834x1780+0+0/resize/880x854!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2Fd4%2F1283b6b94751844e2b8d516ccaa9%2Fpolitics-pussycats-2.jpg)
The following day, the campaign held a "Dudes for Democrats" phone bank at the Wilbury.