The political tactic of the Democratic presidential ticket was displayed starkly as their campaign trail led them to key battlegrounds this Sunday. Vice President Kamala Harris and her running spouse, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, aimed their focus towads areas traditionally shrouded in conservative views, just prior to their gameplay for the week-long convention that officially flags off the final leg leading up to the November election of 2024.
Western Pennsylvania, an area of particular interest due to its political import during an election year, drew the campaign stop this time around. The apparent tactic at hand was to garner support from beyond the more liberally inclined cities within the state. The journey began with a stop at an electoral campaign field office located within the mostly conservative Beaver County in Rochester, Pennsylvania.
During the campaign’s inaugural stop, Kamala Harris sacrastically interacted with an Erie resident, showing her non-state centric approach to win hands in the forthcoming election. The choice of the caller’s locale, Erie, is known for its status as one of the most swing-oriented counties within Pennsylvania. Reminder that Erie had been lost by Hillary Clinton in the elections of 2016 but then was regained by none other than Joseph Biden Jr. himself in the subsequent election.
The determined yet seemingly disoriented Democratic duo were joined by their spouses, Gwen Walz and Doug Emhoff, the quartet journeying through the campaign trail in two brand-new campaign buses. Their journey began at the Pittsburgh airport, from which they’d arrived in the Air Force Two, and were greeted by the bare minimum of supporters upon their arrival.
Indeed, the major chunk of Democratic stronghold within Pennsylvania is contained within Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, both essential to any presidential win as they account for the decisive 19 electoral votes. A recent study showing the heads to head contest heating up with Trump, surprisingly gaining a slight edge, has further stirred up the election drama.
Meanwhile, in contrast to the seemingly lost trail of the Democratic duo, Trump is marking an increasingly dominant appearance within the state. While Trump takes over Wilkes-Barre with a rally on Saturday and plans another in York by Monday, his running mate, JD Vance, is cultivating influence within Philadelphia.
Both the active campaigners have initiated offensive approaches within the battleground state as well, targeting each other for political gain. Without opting for any diplomatic decorum, Harris ridiculed Trump as a ‘coward’ in front of her meager supporter crowd in Rochester – reflective of her populist views. In response, Trump had labeled her a ‘radical’ and a ‘lunatic’ in his rally the previous day.
As opposed to the defensive moves of Harris, President Biden has often been observed prioritizing campaigning within Philadelphia – the largest metro area within the state. A comfortable reach from Washington and close to his homeland Delaware, the city offers him a better expanse to reach out to his electorate amidst counties he carried in his last run.
Where Pittsburgh is the less favourable land for Democrats, Harris’s unwilling arrival there implies her unwillingness to go the route of mainstream politicians. However, such an unenthusiastic sentiment from the Democratic side is laughably deemed necessary by party supporters like Nancy Cannon, a retired teacher, who identifies the area as being flooded by Trump’s supporters.
Even then, Ms. Cannon gave Harris the courtesy of believing that her sudden rise to power has imbued her family and friends with energy. Despite, the woman herself revealed how she is more excited to see a youthful face in power, likening the present to an ‘Obama moment’.
More tellingly, the Democrats are hoping to use Walz’s appeal among the working class to extend their reach beyond larger cities. Areas around Pittsburgh, resembling Minnesota where Walz has performed well previously, are areas they hope to exploit. Regardless, the strategy to tap into these areas feels disingenuous and misplaced.
Trying to make use of Walz’s personal history, they visited Aliquippa High School’s football practice – a town with a majority of Black residents struggling economically. Walz’s own history as a high school coach was used to make a connection with the voters, deeply entrenched in identity politics.
Walz attempted to excite the football team by sharing over the top stories of his past glory as a football coach, with the addition of Jerome Bettis, the Hall of Fame running back often called The Bus, grabbed attention for theatrics rather than policy in the Harris-Walz campaign tour.
Despite their play-acting, some voices from the state suggest that the key to win Pennsylvania is not grand gestures but comprehensive reach. As suggested by Austin Davis, the Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania, the victory is in making a mark everywhere, not just in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
Meanwhile, Conor Lamb, a Democrat representing an external district of Pittsburgh, seemed to justify this approach by pointing out the lack of familiarity of Harris among Pennsylvanian voters, unlike Biden. However, none of these methods address the vital issue, that it’s not just visibility but also viable policies that win votes.
In contrast to these attempts at appeasing voters, the Democratic duo would find that it takes more than just promises of tax credits, health care subsidies or empty appearances. A winning campaign strategy not only requires visibility but also acknowledgement, understanding, and addressing of voters’ concerns.