Swing states/ key electoral states/ election battlegrounds/ competitive states/ Newslooks/ Washington/ Following their recent debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are intensifying their efforts in key swing states. Harris is campaigning in North Carolina, a state Democrats hope to flip, while Trump heads to Arizona to regain ground for Republicans. Both are focusing on expanding their narrow paths to victory in this closely contested presidential race.
Harris and Trump Target Swing States Quick Looks:
- Kamala Harris campaigns in North Carolina after a strong debate performance.
- Donald Trump heads to Arizona to rally support and stabilize his campaign.
- Both candidates are focusing on key swing states to expand their chances in the 2024 election.
- Independents and down-ballot races in North Carolina and Arizona could shape the election outcome.
- Trump and Harris marked the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks while balancing campaign stops.
Harris and Trump Focus on Battleground States After Debate Clash
Deep Look:
In the aftermath of their first debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are zeroing in on key battleground states in an effort to tilt the 2024 election in their favor. Harris, buoyed by her strong debate performance, is making a critical stop in North Carolina, a state Democrats have been eyeing as a potential flip this cycle. Meanwhile, Trump is heading to Arizona, a traditionally Republican state that Democrats have made inroads into, particularly in the last election.
Harris’s stop in North Carolina marks her ninth visit to the state this year, demonstrating the significance the campaign places on its 16 electoral votes. In 2020, Trump narrowly won North Carolina by just 1.3 percentage points, making it one of his closest victories. Democrats believe the state’s shifting demographics — driven by a growing and diversifying population — may work in their favor this time around. Harris will be holding rallies in Charlotte and Greensboro, key population centers that could turn the tide. Popular Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is expected to be one of Harris’s top surrogates, and more than two dozen joint campaign offices have been opened to help mobilize voters.
For Harris, North Carolina represents a vital opportunity. The last time Democrats carried the state was in 2008, when Barack Obama won it during his first presidential bid. With recent polls showing a tight race, Harris is hoping to capitalize on momentum gained from the debate and turn the state blue once again.
Trump, on the other hand, is focusing his attention on Arizona. Having secured most of the state’s electoral votes in nearly every presidential election since World War II, Republicans were surprised when President Joe Biden narrowly won the state in 2020. Now, Trump is aiming to reverse that outcome by focusing on Arizona’s traditionally conservative base and leveraging his populist message.
His campaign stop in Tucson is a key move to stabilize his base in Arizona, a state known for its independent voters who often swing elections. Republicans still outnumber Democrats in the state, but Arizona has seen significant shifts in voter demographics, especially in suburban areas, which have increasingly leaned Democratic. This shift has been largely driven by a political realignment that has seen suburban women, particularly those with college degrees, moving away from the GOP. The rise of Democrats in Arizona has also been bolstered by transplants from traditionally blue states who have moved to Arizona in recent years.
Arizona’s Senate race could also play a significant role in the outcome of the presidential election. Republican Kari Lake, a prominent election denier and former gubernatorial candidate, is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kyrsten Sinema, an independent. Lake’s hard-right platform mirrors Trump’s, and her candidacy will likely energize the conservative base. However, Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego is leading in several recent polls, although the race remains close.
In North Carolina, both parties are looking to unaffiliated voters, the state’s largest voting bloc, to decide the outcome. These independent voters are typically key to winning statewide elections. Democrats are also counting on their gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Josh Stein, to help energize their base. Stein has been actively campaigning against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has come under fire for his previous controversial remarks on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Recent polls have shown Stein leading Robinson, raising concerns for Republicans about their down-ballot prospects.
As both candidates push forward, they are also grappling with the broader political landscape, including Trump’s frequent attacks on Harris and the Biden administration. During a visit to a fire station in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Trump took the opportunity to pose for photos with children wearing campaign shirts and made subtle jabs at his political opponents. Meanwhile, Harris and Biden visited the same location earlier in the day, emphasizing bipartisan unity, with Biden even putting on a Trump 2024 hat as a gesture of goodwill.
While Harris’s campaign has indicated a willingness to participate in another debate, Trump remains undecided. “Are we going to do a rematch?” Trump remarked on Wednesday. “I just don’t know.” As the race heats up, the outcome will likely hinge on a handful of battleground states, including North Carolina and Arizona. Both Harris and Trump are working tirelessly to mobilize their bases and sway independent voters, all while the clock ticks down toward November.
