Pennsylvania election/ Trump rally/ Harris campaign/ battleground state/ swing state/ 2024 election/ Newslooks/ HARRISBURG/ Pa./ J. mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will make appearances in Pennsylvania on Monday, aiming to rally support in this pivotal swing state. Harris will speak in Erie, while Trump will host a town hall near Philadelphia, as both candidates court undecided voters.
Harris and Trump Compete for Pennsylvania Voters: Quick Looks
- Location Focus: Harris in Erie, Trump in Philadelphia suburb of Oaks.
- Campaign Stops: It’s Harris’s 10th Pennsylvania visit; Trump was just in Scranton and Reading.
- Key Issues: Both candidates likely to address energy policy and fracking.
- Historic State: Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes are the most among swing states.
- Voting Context: Pennsylvania, with ongoing mail-in voting, has shown tight recent presidential races.
Harris and Trump to Campaign in Key Pennsylvania Battleground
Deep Look
Pennsylvania will see campaign appearances from both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Monday, as both seek to shore up support in this key battleground state. Harris is scheduled to speak in Erie, in the state’s northwestern corner, while Trump will hold a town hall in Oaks, a Philadelphia suburb. With Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes in play, the state has seen both frequent visits from Harris and a strong presence from Trump as they try to win over undecided voters.
Harris’s visit marks her tenth trip to Pennsylvania during this campaign season. She’s scheduled to hold a rally in Erie, a city with a predominantly Democratic voter base but surrounded by more conservative areas. Erie County, often seen as a bellwether in statewide elections, has a history of voting along moderate lines, making it an essential stop for any candidate looking to connect with swing voters.
Meanwhile, Trump, who recently visited Scranton and Reading, will host a town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. The former president will be looking to energize his support base in southeastern Pennsylvania, a region crucial to his voter turnout strategy. Pennsylvania’s energy industry, including the contentious issue of natural gas fracking, is likely to be a topic of discussion as both candidates aim to resonate with voters concerned about jobs and the economy.
Pennsylvania’s recent voting history shows how competitive the state remains. In 2016, Trump narrowly won the state over Hillary Clinton by about 40,000 votes, helping him secure the presidency. Four years later, Biden edged out Trump in Pennsylvania by approximately 80,000 votes, which proved crucial to Biden’s win. With over 7 million voters expected to cast ballots this year and mail-in voting already underway, Pennsylvania remains a focal point for both campaigns.
The significance of Pennsylvania’s swing-state status extends to its political composition. While the state’s recent gubernatorial and U.S. Senate seats have gone to Democrats, the legislature remains closely divided, indicating an electorate that can swing either way. The intense focus on Pennsylvania in this campaign cycle reflects its crucial role in the upcoming election, as both Harris and Trump vie to secure one of the nation’s most contested battlegrounds.
