U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attend a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 20, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Campaign in Georgia, Targeting Key Voters
Harris Aims to Energize Black Voters in Crucial Swing State
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will campaign together on Wednesday in Georgia, a pivotal state for the 2024 election. Georgia, which Democrats narrowly won in 2020, holds significant importance as Harris seeks to mobilize Black voters, who comprise about one-third of the state’s electorate and are essential to securing a victory.
The campaign will traverse southern Georgia by bus, focusing on regions with large Black populations. In these areas, the Harris campaign has ramped up efforts by adding staff and opening new field offices. This outreach is critical for Harris, who is striving to build a diverse coalition and address voter concerns that have led to disillusionment with the Democratic Party among some Black voters.
Polling and Fundraising Momentum
Since Harris became the Democratic candidate following President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign and endorse her, she has gained ground in national polls. A recent compilation of polls by FiveThirtyEight shows Harris trailing former President Donald Trump by just 0.6 percentage points in Georgia, a significant improvement from Trump’s earlier 5-point lead before Harris entered the race on July 21.
Additionally, Harris’s campaign has been bolstered by over $500 million in donations, further enhancing her competitiveness in the race. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll also indicated that Harris is closing the gap on key issues like the economy and crime, areas where Trump previously held a more substantial lead.
Campaign Events and Focus Areas
The Georgia tour will conclude with a rally in the Savannah area on Thursday. Harris is expected to emphasize the economy and abortion rights during her visit, including pledges to lower consumer costs and protect reproductive freedoms. The campaign’s statement highlighted the importance of engaging a diverse coalition of voters across rural, suburban, and urban areas in Georgia.
Earlier on Wednesday, Walz addressed the International Association of Firefighters in Boston, seeking their support for Harris’s campaign. He emphasized Harris’s commitment to labor rights and middle-class tax cuts, contrasting these with Trump’s policies, which he claimed opposed overtime benefits and efforts to raise the minimum wage.
Georgia’s Role in the 2024 Election
Georgia, with its 16 Electoral College votes, is a crucial swing state that could tip the balance in the 2024 presidential election. Harris has already visited Georgia twice since becoming the Democratic candidate, including a rally in Atlanta earlier this month that drew more than 10,000 attendees and featured hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion.
Democrats narrowly won Georgia in 2020 by less than 12,000 votes, and Harris is determined to replicate that success. However, Republicans have significantly increased their spending in the state, and the Republican-controlled state election board recently introduced a new rule that voting rights advocates fear could delay vote certification in November.
Trump, who has emphasized the importance of winning Georgia for the Republican Party’s success, is expected to make several campaign appearances in the state before Election Day on November 5.
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