Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are preparing for a crucial debate in Philadelphia, recognizing Pennsylvania’s significance in the 2024 presidential race. The state, a pivotal swing state, has voted for the winner in the past two elections by narrow margins. Harris is focusing on reassembling Biden’s winning coalition, while Trump aims to counter Democratic dominance in Pennsylvania’s suburbs by criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the economy. The debate, set for Tuesday, could play a decisive role in swaying voters, as both campaigns view Pennsylvania as essential to securing the presidency.
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- Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are gearing up for a crucial debate in Philadelphia, recognizing the importance of Pennsylvania in the 2024 election.
- Pennsylvania is the most populous swing state and has sided with the winner in the past two presidential elections, each time by narrow margins.
- Harris is focusing on rebuilding Biden’s coalition, targeting key groups such as college students, Black voters, and women concerned about abortion rights.
- Trump is working to weaken Harris’ support in Pennsylvania’s suburbs by criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the economy and inflation.
- The debate, scheduled for Tuesday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, could significantly influence voters in the state.
- Harris aims to win big in Philadelphia and its suburbs, where Democratic support is traditionally strong, while Trump looks to maintain his large margins in rural areas.
- Both campaigns view Pennsylvania as essential to their path to the White House, and the debate may prove pivotal in swaying undecided voters in this critical swing state.
- Trump and Harris have both campaigned heavily in Pennsylvania this year, underscoring the state’s importance in determining the outcome of the election.
Pennsylvania key focus as Harris and Trump prep for pivotal debate
Newslooks- HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) —
As Donald Trump and Kamala Harris prepare to face off in their first and possibly only debate on Tuesday night in Philadelphia, one thing is clear: Pennsylvania is a pivotal battleground state that could determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. With its 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is the most populous swing state in the country, and its importance has been underscored in the last two presidential elections. In 2016, Pennsylvania played a key role in helping Trump secure the presidency, with the former president flipping the state, which had previously voted for Democrats in six consecutive elections. Four years later, Joe Biden won back Pennsylvania by a narrow margin, securing his path to the White House.
This time, both candidates know that Pennsylvania could once again hold the key to victory. The state’s diverse electorate, which includes a mix of rural, suburban, and urban voters, is reflective of the broader national electorate, making it a critical battleground. Polls suggest that Pennsylvania will be close again this year, with both candidates vying for the state’s crucial electoral votes.
Trump and Harris have been frequent visitors to Pennsylvania in recent weeks, each making a case for why they should lead the country. Trump, who has consistently touted his economic policies as a driving force for growth, has focused on the economy in his campaign, hoping to capitalize on dissatisfaction with inflation and concerns about rising costs of living. Harris, meanwhile, has sought to energize the Democratic base, particularly Black voters, women, and suburban voters, by emphasizing issues like abortion rights, healthcare, and economic justice.
In many ways, the stakes in Pennsylvania are particularly high for Harris. No Democrat has won the White House without Pennsylvania since 1948, and the state’s history as a bellwether makes it crucial for the Democratic nominee. Harris is attempting to rebuild the coalition that helped Biden win in 2020, which included strong support in the heavily populated suburbs of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as key gains among college students, women, and Black voters.
Trump, meanwhile, is hoping to replicate his 2016 success by turning out rural and small-town voters in large numbers, particularly in the central and western parts of the state, where he enjoys strong support. His strategy also involves trying to blunt the growing influence of the Philadelphia suburbs, where Democrats have made significant inroads in recent years. The former president is banking on economic discontent and concerns about crime to resonate with suburban voters, hoping to reverse the gains Democrats have made in those areas.
The upcoming debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is set to be a defining moment in the race. For Trump, it’s an opportunity to solidify his message and appeal to swing voters who may be dissatisfied with the current state of the economy. For Harris, it’s a chance to introduce herself to voters who may not be as familiar with her policy positions and to rally the Democratic base. Both campaigns are acutely aware that Pennsylvania could be the deciding factor in the election. The state has long been seen as a microcosm of the nation, with its mix of urban centers, suburban neighborhoods, and rural communities. As a result, the candidates’ strategies in Pennsylvania offer a glimpse into their broader national campaigns.
Harris has been focusing on building support in the suburbs, where Democrats have seen significant gains in recent elections. In 2020, Biden won by running up the score in the Philadelphia suburbs, winning over suburban women and educated voters who were turned off by Trump’s rhetoric and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris is aiming to replicate that strategy, while also working to increase turnout among Black voters in Philadelphia, who are a key part of the Democratic base. Ed Rendell, a former Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, believes Harris has the potential to outperform Biden in the state, particularly in the suburbs. “There’s plenty of votes to get, a Democrat can get a greater margin in those counties,” Rendell said, noting that Harris’ personal story and commitment to progressive causes could resonate with suburban voters.
Republicans, however, believe that Trump can also make gains in the suburbs by focusing on economic issues. Lawrence Tabas, chair of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party, said the GOP’s polling shows that suburban voters are increasingly concerned about the economy, particularly inflation, and that these concerns could work in Trump’s favor. “A lot of people are really now starting to say, ‘Look, personalities aside, they are what they are, but we really need the American economy to become strong again,’” Tabas said.
Trump’s strategy also involves turning out large numbers of voters in rural areas and small towns, where his message about economic populism and concerns about immigration resonates strongly. The former president has repeatedly claimed that his policies on energy production, particularly fracking, have helped Pennsylvania’s economy, and he has criticized Harris for her previous support of a fracking ban.
In Washington County, just outside of Pittsburgh, where the natural gas industry plays a significant role, Democrats acknowledge that Harris’ prior support for a fracking ban could be a challenge. Although Harris has since moderated her stance, saying the country can reach its clean energy goals without banning fracking, Trump continues to attack her on the issue, aiming to sway voters in the state’s energy-producing regions.
Meanwhile, Democrats are hopeful that the enthusiasm surrounding Harris’ candidacy will help energize the party’s base and attract new voters. In recent months, Harris has focused on issues like protecting abortion rights, lowering prescription drug costs, and addressing economic inequality, hoping to rally women, young voters, and Black voters.
Larry Maggi, a Democratic county commissioner in Washington County, said he has seen an increase in enthusiasm for Harris compared to Biden, particularly among young women concerned about protecting reproductive rights. “I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I’m seeing people I’ve never seen,” Maggi said, noting that the number of volunteers and lawn signs for Harris is significantly higher than what he saw for Biden in 2020.
For both campaigns, the debate in Philadelphia offers an opportunity to solidify their positions in a state that could ultimately determine the outcome of the election. With early voting set to begin in just a few weeks, both candidates are working to make their case to Pennsylvania voters and ensure they turn out on Election Day. As Lawrence Tabas noted, “There’s no path to the White House without Pennsylvania.” Both Harris and Trump are well aware of that reality, and the state is set to be a major battleground as the 2024 election approaches.
