Harris Courts Suburban Voters in Midwest, Joined by Liz Cheney

Kamala Harris/ Liz Cheney/ 2024 election/ suburban voters/ Donald Trump/ battleground states/ Midwestern campaign/ Newslooks/ PHILADELPHIA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kamala Harris is visiting key Midwestern suburbs with former GOP congresswoman Liz Cheney, seeking to sway Republicans who are uneasy about Donald Trump. With the election approaching, Harris aims to capture undecided voters in battleground states. Cheney, a vocal Trump critic, joins Harris in urging Republicans to prioritize democratic norms and reject Trump’s candidacy.

Harris and Liz Cheney Visit Midwestern Suburbs: Quick Looks

• Kamala Harris visits three key Midwestern battleground states, joined by Republican Liz Cheney.
• The events target suburban counties that supported GOP candidates but show unease about Donald Trump.
• Cheney and Harris focus on Trump’s “unhinged” behavior and the consequences of his potential return to the White House.
• The appearances are part of a broader strategy to engage undecided and moderate voters before Election Day.
• Early voting begins this week in some states, with the election just two weeks away.

Harris Courts Suburban Voters in Midwest, Joined by Liz Cheney

Deep Look:

On Monday, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris launched a focused effort to win over suburban Republicans who are uncomfortable with Donald Trump’s candidacy, making stops in three critical Midwestern states. In a strategic move, Harris was accompanied by former GOP congresswoman and prominent Trump critic Liz Cheney. The duo plans to engage voters in Chester County, Pennsylvania; Oakland County, Michigan; and Waukesha County, Wisconsin—suburban areas that once supported Republican candidates but may be wavering in their support for Trump.

These three counties were won by former GOP candidate Nikki Haley during the primary, even after she withdrew from the race. By targeting these regions, Harris and Cheney hope to persuade moderate Republicans, independents, and undecided voters. The stakes are high, especially in battleground states like Wisconsin, where a slim margin of just 20,000 votes decided the 2020 election.

Cheney, who lost her House seat after co-chairing the congressional committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot, has been an outspoken critic of Trump. Her partnership with Harris highlights the broader concern among some Republicans about Trump’s leadership and his disregard for democratic norms. Their joint appearances aim to spotlight this issue, with Cheney emphasizing the dangers of a second Trump term. “I do believe that Donald Trump is an unserious man,” Harris has stated at recent rallies, “and the consequences of him ever getting back into the White House are brutally serious.”

The events will be moderated by conservative radio host Charles Sykes and GOP strategist Sarah Longwell, providing a balanced platform for the discussions. Cheney’s message to Republican voters has focused on the idea that voting for Harris and the Democrats is a “patriotic” choice, especially in light of Trump’s involvement in the January 6 insurrection and his ongoing false claims about the 2020 election results.

In Waukesha County, Wisconsin, for example, Haley won more than 9,000 primary votes, showing that voters in the area are not fully aligned with Trump. This creates an opportunity for Harris to appeal to these voters, especially as early voting begins in Wisconsin this week. A few votes in each of these critical counties could ultimately influence the overall outcome of the race.

Cheney is not alone in her Republican endorsement of Harris. Over 100 former GOP officeholders and officials recently endorsed Harris at a rally in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, a symbolic location known for its historical significance in the American Revolutionary War. There, Harris told Republican voters that voting for her campaign was in line with their values of democracy and national integrity.

As the election draws closer, Harris has intensified her focus on Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection, calling him “unhinged” and emphasizing the threat he poses to democratic institutions. Meanwhile, Trump continues to downplay the violent attack, referring to it as a “day of love.” His rhetoric has only heightened the urgency of Harris’s message to suburban voters, especially those who may still be on the fence.

Following Monday’s appearances, Harris will return to Pennsylvania on Wednesday for a CNN town hall in Delaware County, where she will take questions from voters. With just over two weeks until Election Day, every stop on her campaign trail counts, especially in key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

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