Harris Courts Georgia Voters in Battleground State

Vice President Kamala Harris embarks on a two-day bus tour of southeastern Georgia, aiming to woo swing state voters crucial to her 2024 presidential bid.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has set her sights on the critical battleground state of Georgia, embarking on a two-day bus swing through the southeastern region. Accompanied by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris kicked off her campaign trail by visiting students and faculty at a high school before stopping by a local barbecue joint.

Georgia, once a reliably red state in White House elections, has become increasingly competitive in recent years. President Biden narrowly edged out then-President Trump in 2020, becoming the first Democrat in nearly three decades to capture the state. Trump, however, has regained a solid single-digit lead in polls since Biden's departure from the race, but a recent Fox News survey indicates that Harris has closed the gap to a razor-thin 50%-48% margin among registered voters.

Harris Courts Georgia Voters in Battleground State

The vice president's choice to begin her campaign trail in Georgia underscores the state's pivotal role in the upcoming election. Democratic strategists recognize the need to not only win big in Atlanta and its suburbs, which account for nearly 60% of Georgia's population, but also to stay competitive in the rest of the state. Quentin Fulks, the campaign's principal deputy manager, emphasized the importance of "competing everywhere across the state" and "running in rural counties" to achieve statewide victory.

Harris's itinerary included a stop at Liberty County High School, where she addressed the administration, faculty, and students. She praised their generation for "propelling our country into the next era" and highlighted her own experience in marching band during her high school days.

Harris Courts Georgia Voters in Battleground State

The Trump campaign, however, has criticized Harris's performance in the White House, arguing that her policies have failed the American people. RNC spokesperson Morgan Ackley emphasized the Republican Party's focus on engaging voters across the entire state, rather than concentrating solely on the Atlanta area.

Despite the Republican Party's efforts, the Harris campaign appears to have a significant organizational advantage in Georgia. To recapture the state, Trump will likely need the assistance of Governor Brian Kemp's well-funded political machine to mobilize GOP voters. Kemp has publicly stated his support for the Republican ticket and is scheduled to join a fundraiser for Trump later this week.

Harris Courts Georgia Voters in Battleground State

The high stakes of the Georgia race are reflected in the substantial advertising spending by both the Harris and Trump campaigns. Harris's campaign has allocated over $42 million, while Trump's campaign has committed nearly $33 million to Georgia airwaves for the final stretch.

Veteran Georgia-based Republican consultant Stephen Lawson emphasized the state's pivotal role in deciding the presidential race: "From the Trump-Kemp détente to Harris campaigning in rural Georgia to the massive spending, just continues to underscore that the road to the White House runs through Georgia." He added that "it will be very, very, difficult for either Harris or Trump to win the White House without winning Georgia."

Harris Courts Georgia Voters in Battleground State