Fears are growing within the Democratic Party about Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign in Pennsylvania, a battleground state crucial to the election outcome, according to a report. Allegedly, poor campaign management and a lack of relationships with Democratic leaders in Pennsylvania are causing turmoil in the campaign. Democrats are concerned that the state manager lacks an understanding of Philadelphia, the state’s largest city, and campaign staffers have not engaged local Democratic politicians or effectively used surrogates across the state.
Politico spoke with 20 Democratic politicians, allies, and party leaders who expressed restlessness over Harris’ campaigning efforts. One union leader in Pennsylvania, Ryan Boyer, criticized the campaign’s state manager, Nikki Lu, for not understanding Philadelphia and being slow to engage with credible surrogates in the community.
The Harris campaign is focusing on increasing voter turnout in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with 50 coordinated offices and nearly 400 staff on the ground. Despite claims of strong outreach to minority voters compared to Trump’s campaign, concerns remain about Lu’s understanding of Philadelphia and engaging with diverse demographics.
In closed-door meetings in Philadelphia, Latino and Black Democratic leaders raised concerns about their limited presence at events and the need for a more sophisticated approach to engaging with diverse voters. Some Democratic officials in Pennsylvania expressed frustration with the state campaign and believe that success in the state will be despite Harris’ efforts.
Salvatore J. Panto Jr., the Democratic mayor of Easton near Allentown, criticized the campaign for being out-messaged by Republicans and not effectively communicating Harris’ plan compared to Trump’s messaging. Pennsylvania remains a key battleground state in the upcoming election, with voters expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Political observers are closely watching Pennsylvania as history has shown that the state’s voters have a significant impact on federal elections. While Trump narrowly won the state in 2016, he lost it in 2020 to President Biden. The upcoming election will once again put Pennsylvania voters in the spotlight as a decisive force in the race.
As the election season heats up, the Democratic Party faces challenges in effectively connecting with voters in key battleground states like Pennsylvania. The outcome in these states will likely have a significant impact on the overall election results, making it crucial for campaigns to address concerns and engage with diverse communities to secure support.