Vice President Kamala Harris is making her first post-convention campaign stop in Georgia this week, signaling a renewed focus on the battleground state as the 2024 election draws closer. Harris, along with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is embarking on a bus tour through southeast Georgia, a region often overlooked by top Democrats in past elections.
Strategic Focus Beyond Atlanta
Harris’ campaign strategy diverges from the traditional Democratic playbook, which has largely concentrated on metro Atlanta’s bluest counties. Instead, the vice president is expanding her outreach to include urban, suburban, and rural areas across Georgia, particularly targeting Black and working-class voters. This approach stems from lessons learned during President Joe Biden’s narrow 2020 victory in Georgia, where he flipped the state by fewer than 12,000 votes.
“We are still a battleground state,” said Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), chair of the state Democratic Party. “They know, just like we know, that we’ve been counted out before.” Harris’ campaign believes that Georgia is in play and that engaging voters outside of Atlanta is crucial for securing another win in the state.
High-Risk, High-Reward Strategy
Returning to the campaign trail in Georgia is a calculated risk for Harris. The latest polls show former President Donald Trump maintaining a slight lead in the state. However, Harris has been closing the gap since Biden exited the race, and her campaign views Georgia as a critical battleground. The decision to prioritize the state underscores the importance of winning over swing voters and increasing turnout among rural and Black voters, especially in areas previously considered GOP strongholds.
“This is going to be a tight race, and it’s going to be won on the margins,” said Jonae Wartel, a senior adviser for the Harris campaign in Georgia. The campaign’s strategy includes multiple visits to Georgia, with Harris’ bus tour marking her seventh trip to the state this year.
Building on Past Success
Democrats have benefited from Georgia’s growing and diversifying population, as well as sustained efforts by activists to mobilize first-time voters, particularly young people and voters of color. Harris’ strategy mirrors the successful approach of Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, who won his seat by appealing to a broad coalition of voters across the state.
Harris’ bus tour will culminate in a rally in Savannah on Thursday night, further solidifying her campaign’s commitment to engaging voters across Georgia. With nearly two months until Election Day, Harris and Walz are working to make up for lost time and secure every possible vote in this crucial battleground state.
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