{"id":2319996,"date":"2024-08-06T12:58:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T16:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-bets-on-philadelphia-despite-slumping-voter-turnout-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-06T13:04:38","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T17:04:38","slug":"kamala-harris-bets-on-philadelphia-despite-slumping-voter-turnout-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-bets-on-philadelphia-despite-slumping-voter-turnout-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Kamala Harris bets on Philadelphia despite slumping voter turnout &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkamala-harris-bets-on-philadelphia-despite-slumping-voter-turnout-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2319996&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Vice President Kamala Harris is focusing her \u2064campaign \u200cefforts on \u200dPhiladelphia amidst declining voter turnout, which poses a significant\u200d challenge for the Democrats in the upcoming election. She recently launched a battleground tour in the \u200dcity, accompanied by her new running mate, Governor Tim Walz of\u200c Minnesota, and has made several visits\u200c to Pennsylvania this year. Despite Philadelphia&#8217;s strong Democratic registration and the expectation of winning this crucial area, both Harris and other Democratic leaders are concerned \u2063about dwindling voter participation, which has fallen below expectations in recent elections.<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, while Biden won the \u200bstate with a small margin,\u2062 he was bolstered by suburban voters who favored him over Trump. However, enhanced support for Trump in \u2064urban areas like Philadelphia complicates\u200d matters for Democrats. With only 43% of city residents voting in recent midterm elections\u2014a decrease from 2018\u2014growing voter engagement is\u200b essential. Harris&#8217;s campaign strategy emphasizes abortion rights and framing \u2062Trump\u200b as a threat to democracy. Although she does not necessarily need Pennsylvania to win the presidency, it\u200b remains a top target due to its significant\u2062 electoral votes.<\/p>\n<p>The election landscape is further complicated by low enthusiasm among \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-bidens-approval-rating-hits-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-so-far\/\" title=\"Poll: Biden\u2019s Approval Rating Hits Lowest Point Of His Presidency So Far\">key demographic groups<\/a>.\u200c Harris must also contend with the challenges of maintaining momentum and engaging voters who may have expressed skepticism toward Biden&#8217;s administration. As both campaigns intensify their focus on Pennsylvania, Harris&#8217;s\u2063 ability\u200c to improve voter turnout in Philadelphia is crucial for her success \u200bin \u2064the election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kamala Harris bets on Philadelphia despite slumping voter turnout<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1724370\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>PHILADELPHIA &mdash; <\/strong>Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kamala Harris<\/a> is making an unmistakable bet on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/philadelphia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Philadelphia<\/a> in the face of a yearslong decline in voter turnout that could cost her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Pennsylvania<\/a> and perhaps the election.<\/p>\n<p>She chose the city to launch a battleground tour with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3094754\/who-is-tim-walz-harris-vice-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>her new running mate<\/a>, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), on Tuesday and has visited the state six other times this year, including a Philadelphia town hall she attended in July.<\/p>\n<p>The Democrats&rsquo; ability to win the city is not in doubt. With a 7-to-1 voter registration advantage, Harris can count on a decisive victory here and in Pittsburgh, another blue stronghold, even as former President Donald Trump runs up the score in more rural parts of the state.<\/p>\n<p>But Democrats are left guarding against two trends undermining their chances in November. In 2020, Philadelphia brought out the <a href=\"https:\/\/whyy.org\/articles\/an-extraordinary-election-nearly-750k-votes-later-phillys-ballot-counting-is-officially-over\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>highest number<\/a> of voters in two decades, fueled in part by the rise in mail balloting. Yet turnout has fallen substantially below expectations in elections since then, including during President <a href=\"https:\/\/whyy.org\/articles\/pennsylvania-primary-biden-trump-challenges-protest-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Joe Biden&rsquo;s 2024 primary<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, 2020&rsquo;s numbers obscured a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/news\/president-donald-trump-joe-biden-philadelphia-election-day-20201107.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>small but material improvement<\/a> for Trump in Philadelphia. He picked up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.electionreturns.pa.gov\/_ENR\/General\/CountyResults?countyName=Philadelphia&amp;ElectionID=83&amp;ElectionType=G&amp;IsActive=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>17.9%<\/a> support against Biden, compared to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.electionreturns.pa.gov\/_ENR\/General\/CountyResults?countyName=Philadelphia&amp;ElectionID=54&amp;ElectionType=G&amp;IsActive=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>15.4%<\/a> four years earlier.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Low turnout in Philadelphia has gone from irksome to concerning to troublesome to top of mind for Democratic politicos. It keeps them up at night,&rdquo; said Christopher Nicholas, a veteran GOP political consultant and the author of the <em>PA Political Digest<\/em> newsletter.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Add to that inroads Donald Trump has made with minority men, and you can see why it&rsquo;s such a problem for them,&rdquo; Nicholas added.<\/p>\n<p>Biden nonetheless won the state in 2020 on the strength of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2020\/11\/13\/934372249\/philadelphias-suburbs-helped-deliver-crucial-pennsylvania-for-biden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>appeal to suburban voters<\/a>, albeit by a single percentage point. Then, as now, Democrats believe they can win the outskirts of Philadelphia and other vote-rich areas on a message that emphasizes abortion access and frames Trump as a threat to democracy.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans will also have to erase the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wesa.fm\/politics-government\/2022-11-10\/pennsylvania-democrats-kept-suburbs-gained-rural-voters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>improvements<\/a> Democrats made in rural counties during the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, Democrats have voiced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2023\/06\/04\/democrats-voter-turnout-philadelphia-pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>skittishness<\/a> about the turnout in Philadelphia, given the crucial role it will play in the November election.<\/p>\n<p>Harris does not need to win Pennsylvania to become president, assuming she can pick up <a href=\"https:\/\/nymag.com\/intelligencer\/article\/kamala-harris-has-multiple-paths-to-beating-donald-trump.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>competitive states<\/a> such as Georgia and Nevada. But it is the richest of all the swing states in terms of electoral votes and the top target of both Harris and Trump in terms of campaign advertising.<\/p>\n<p>Harris&rsquo;s path to the White House runs clearly through Pennsylvania. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.270towin.com\/maps\/consensus-2024-presidential-election-forecast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According to 270toWin&rsquo;s &ldquo;consensus&rdquo; Electoral College map<\/a>, Harris has three winning combinations to the necessary 270 electoral votes and the presidency, whereas Trump has five pathways. The one &ldquo;must-win&rdquo; state for Harris in her trio of scenarios is the Keystone State. <\/p>\n<p>Combined, the Harris and Trump campaigns are spending <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/08\/03\/trump-harris-pennsylvania-ad-spending-president\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>more than twice as much<\/a> on Pennsylvania than any other battleground, according to <em>Axios<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Town Hall on July 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Joe Lamberti)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Her choice of Walz suggests a level of comfort that she can win Pennsylvania without Josh Shapiro, the state&rsquo;s popular Democratic governor, as her running mate. He was one of three names on her short list.<\/p>\n<p>But victory in Philadelphia will require reversing a decline in voting that goes beyond presidential dynamics. Only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2023\/06\/04\/democrats-voter-turnout-philadelphia-pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>43% of city residents<\/a> voted in the midterm elections, compared to 49% in 2018, while turnout was down in April&rsquo;s presidential primary.<\/p>\n<p>Last year&rsquo;s mayoral election represented a <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240718042258\/https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/politics\/election\/philadelphia-democratic-turnout-challenges-2024-20240506.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>bright spot<\/a>, reversing the trend of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-have-major-turnout-problem\/\" title=\"Republicans face significant turnout issues\">declining turnout<\/a> for off-year elections, gains that were concentrated in whiter enclaves of the city.<\/p>\n<p>But Harris will also have to overcome the enthusiasm gap seen with Biden, who dropped out of the presidential race two weeks&nbsp;ago following a disastrous debate performance. She does not have the &ldquo;Scranton Joe&rdquo; appeal that is credited with helping Democrats with Pennsylvania&rsquo;s white working class, but the president faced seemingly intractable skepticism from minority and progressive voters, two pillars of the traditional Democratic coalition.<\/p>\n<p>In a visit to Philadelphia in May, Harris launched a black voter initiative with Biden to address&nbsp;the flagging support, though the Latino vote is also of concern. Trump&rsquo;s inroads in the city were due, in part, to a <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240704114533\/https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/politics\/election\/philadelphia-2020-election-turnout-biden-trump-20201115.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>shift<\/a> in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods in North Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Harris will need to stem those losses, both in Pennsylvania and nationally, if she hopes to become president. But Democrats believe they stand a better chance with a new ticket. She has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/president\/general\/2024\/trump-vs-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>tightened the polls<\/a> with Trump since entering the race two weeks ago, including in the slate of battlegrounds she will visit over the next week.<\/p>\n<p>Following her Philadelphia rally, Harris will travel to Wisconsin and Michigan, the two other &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-said-it-best-vp-contenders-audition-for-slot-by-slamming-vance-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Who said it best: VP contenders audition for slot by slamming Vance - Washington Examiner\">blue wall&#038;rdquo<\/a>; states that Trump won in 2016. Her tour also includes trips to North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1724370\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1724370\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kamala Harris is placing significant emphasis on Philadelphia, even as voter turnout has been declining for several years, which could jeopardize her chances in Pennsylvania and potentially the election. She kicked off a battleground tour in the city with her new running mate, Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), on Tuesday and has made six visits to the state this year, including a town hall in Philadelphia last July. The Democrats are confident about winning the city due to their substantial 7-to-1 voter registration advantage, which should ensure victories in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh despite former President Donald Trump&#8217;s strong performance in rural areas.<\/p>\n<p>However, Democrats are wary of two trends that could undermine their prospects come November. In 2020, Philadelphia saw its highest voter turnout in two decades partly due to increased mail-in voting. Since then, turnout has significantly fallen short of expectations during subsequent elections, including President Joe Biden&#8217;s 2024 primary. Additionally, Trump gained some ground among voters in Philadelphia; his support rose from 15.4% against Biden four years ago to 17.9% this time.<\/p>\n<p>Christopher Nicholas, a seasoned GOP consultant and author of the PA Political Digest newsletter noted that low turnout has escalated from being merely annoying to a major concern for Democratic strategists: &#8220;It keeps them up at night.&#8221; He also pointed out Trump&#8217;s growing appeal among minority men as an additional challenge for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these challenges, Biden won Pennsylvania by just one percentage point in 2020 thanks largely to his appeal among suburban voters. Both parties believe they can secure votes from suburban areas around Philadelphia by focusing on issues like abortion access while portraying Trump as a threat to democracy.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans will need to counteract gains made by Democrats in rural counties during recent midterm elections; however, concerns about voter turnout remain paramount for Democrats given its critical importance for November&#8217;s election outcome.<\/p>\n<p>While Harris doesn&#8217;t necessarily need Pennsylvania to win the presidency\u2014if she can secure competitive states like Georgia and Nevada\u2014it remains crucial due to its electoral vote count and is heavily targeted by both her campaign and Trump&#8217;s efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Harris\u2019s strategy includes selecting Walz as her running mate instead of popular state governor Josh Shapiro\u2014one of three candidates considered\u2014which indicates confidence she can win without him. Yet reversing declining voter participation will be essential; only 43% of city residents voted during midterms compared with 49% in 2018\u2014and there was also decreased participation during April\u2019s presidential primary.<\/p>\n<p>Last year&#8217;s mayoral election did show some improvement against previous off-year trends but primarily benefited whiter neighborhoods within the city. Harris must also address enthusiasm gaps similar to those seen with Biden after he exited the race following poor debate performances; unlike Biden&#8217;s &#8220;Scranton Joe&#8221; persona appealing more broadly across white working-class voters\u2014Harris faces skepticism from minority groups central to Democratic support bases.<\/p>\n<p>In May she initiated an outreach program targeting Black voters alongside Biden amid dwindling support while recognizing shifts within predominantly Hispanic communities contributing further challenges regarding Latino votes lost under Trump\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n<p>To enhance her chances nationally\u2014and particularly within Pennsylvania\u2014Harris needs not only regain lost ground but also capitalize on recent polling improvements since entering the race two weeks ago against Trump across key battlegrounds such as Wisconsin and Michigan along with North Carolina Arizona Nevada over upcoming days ahead!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2319997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/harris-philadelphia-1024x592.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32431,32438,5522,32504,33358],"class_list":["post-2319996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2024-election","tag-kamala-harris","tag-philadelphia","tag-political-strategy","tag-voter-turnout"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/harris-philadelphia-1024x592.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2319996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2319997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2319996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2319996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2319996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}