Harris and Walz Venture Into Less-Friendly Terrain to Court Pennsylvania Voters
Democratic Presidential Ticket Fires up Voters in Key Battleground State
On the eve of their convention scheduled for this week, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota embarked on a brief bus tour on Sunday, rallying voters in perhaps the most decisive battleground state in the upcoming 2024 election – Pennsylvania.
Harris-Walz Ticket Seeks Support Beyond Liberal Cities
The strategy of the democratic ticket to seek support in territories beyond the state’s traditionally progressive cities became evident on their first stop in Rochester, in the largely conservative Beaver County. In a field office there, Vice President Harris interacted with an Erie resident through a volunteer’s phone. Erie is a city in one of the most ‘swingy’ counties of the state, which Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, but which swung in favor of Joe Biden in 2020. A visibly excited Harris expressed intent to visit Erie soon.
Vice President Harris and Governor Walz were also accompanied by their spouses, Doug Emhoff and Gwen Walz, as they traveled on two gleaming new campaign buses from the Pittsburgh airport, greeted by a small but enthusiastic group of supporters.
A Neck-and-Neck Race in Pennsylvania
Traditionally, the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions have been the primary drivers of Democratic support in Pennsylvania, a state that commands 19 critical electoral votes, potent enough to decide the race to the presidency. Recent polls indicate a nail-bitingly close contest between the Harris-Walz ticket, and former President Donald J. Trump, with sporadic surveys showing a slight edge towards Harris. Trump is also escalating his presence in Pennsylvania, with a rally held in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday and another planned in York on Monday. Simultaneously, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Trump’s running mate, is on a campaign trail in Philadelphia.
Continued Rallying on Less-Friendly Terrain
The democratic presidential ticket’s venture into comparatively conservative territory signals a bold intent to connect with a wider demographic, beyond their established liberal urban strongholds. The results will become apparent as the race heats up in the coming weeks, leading up to the 2024 election.
Author: STAFF HERE OUTER BANKS WRITER
The OBX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOBX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in the Outer Banks, Dare County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Outer Banks Seafood Festival, NC VIP Fishing Tournament, and NCBBA Red Drum Tournament. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and Outer Banks Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in tourism, retail, and hospitality that power the local economy such as Kitty Hawk Kites, Outer Banks Mall, and Avon Fishing Pier. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HERERaleigh.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
