Mayor Cherelle Parker and Philly Democrats declare their unity behind Kamala Harris

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker gathered more than three dozen local elected officials and union leaders outside City Hall Saturday morning to deliver a message: Philadelphia Democrats are united behind Kamala Harris.

“We're heading out into neighborhoods around the city, and not just this weekend,” Parker said while standing next to the statue of civil rights activist Octavius ​​V. Catto from the 19th century stood. “We have been and will continue to be engaged in neighborhoods, block by block, house by house, person by person, door by door.”

With just over two weeks to go before the presidential election, it may seem obvious that Philadelphia's Democratic mayor and the scores of lawmakers, city council members and union leaders surrounding her were determined to help their party's nominee defeat former President Donald Trump.

” READ MORE: Philly officials criticize Kamala Harris' campaign for overlooking her role in Pennsylvania victory: “They're going to blame us if we lose.”

However, Parker was forced to double down on the message after recent reports that local Democrats expressed concerns about the effectiveness of Harris' campaign in Pennsylvania. Among the concerns, first reported by Politico, were questions from Parker's allies about whether the Harris team was effectively exploiting the mayor, who became the first woman to hold office in January and is seen as widely popular.

Other complaints focused on Harris' Pennsylvania campaign manager Nikkilia Lu, who is from Pittsburgh and was not well received by some political leaders in Philadelphia, and a lack of coordination in efforts to reach black and brown voters.

Saturday's event, which Parker co-organized with Harris' campaign team, was intended to dispel the notion that local Democrats didn't get along with the vice president's team.

“We got a few hits that we don’t do enough,” said Bob Brady, chairman of the local party’s Democratic City Committee. “It's crazy. We do so much. We're doing this all day today. … The elected officials of the (Philadelphia) Democratic Party are working hand in hand with the (Harris) campaign.”

Speakers highlighted the numerous election efforts that local Democrats and the Harris campaign have organized in Philadelphia in recent weeks, as well as their plans for the final 17 days of voting. The Harris campaign is organizing 16 neighborhood canvassing shifts in Philadelphia this weekend and will send surrogates to 14 churches across the city on Sunday. The campaign will host events in the coming days with several participants in Parker's press conference, including Brady, Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson and Rep. Andre Carroll.

Later Saturday, Parker helped launch a canvass at the Harris campaign's Brewerytown office.