Kamala Harris’s margin for error this election cycle is razor-thin. She can’t afford for anything to go wrong.
But this election news from a key swing state has the Harris campaign burying their heads in the sand.
Vice President Kamala Harris is facing a challenge in gaining support from Black voters in Erie, Pennsylvania, despite her campaign’s significant efforts and resources.
Erie County, which has voted for the winning presidential candidate in the last four elections, is crucial in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump has long emphasized Pennsylvania’s importance, recently stating at a rally, “If we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing.”
In the 2020 election, Trump narrowly lost Erie County by less than 1,500 votes, a loss that contributed to his overall defeat in Pennsylvania and ultimately the White House.
As Harris ramps up her efforts in the county for the 2024 campaign, her well-funded and organized ground game is impressive. However, she appears to be struggling to win over a key demographic: Black voters. According to a recent Reuters report, many Black voters in Erie are not convinced by Harris’s campaign.
One Black voter, explaining his decision to support Trump instead, pointed to what he sees as Trump’s more direct approach. “We don’t care about LGBT rights. We don’t care about, you know, abortion rights. We’re not worried about that,” he said. “They don’t offer anything to the straight Black male voters.” His words reflect a broader sense of dissatisfaction among some Black voters in the county, where the African American population represents about 16%—similar to their national representation.
Another Black voter, though planning to vote for Harris, expressed concerns about the lack of enthusiasm for her within the Black community, calling it “just not that intense.” This tepid response comes as Trump is making notable strides in his outreach to Black voters.
In 2020, Trump garnered just 8% of the Black vote, but recent polling by the New York Times shows him receiving 13% support among Black voters in Pennsylvania. Nationally, Trump’s support among Black voters has risen to around 15%, with some surveys suggesting even higher levels of support.
Despite Harris’s team outnumbering Trump’s in Erie—boasting three campaign offices, eight paid staffers, and more than 300 volunteers—the energy seems to be lacking among the Black electorate.
Chris Borick, a political science professor at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, noted that “Harris and the Democrats are investing deeply in a more traditional ground game here,” while Trump’s campaign, though less-resourced, seems to be banking on the personal pull of the former president.
With only two paid staffers and fewer volunteers, Trump’s campaign in Erie has taken a more streamlined approach, relying heavily on his strong personal brand and two visits to the county so far, compared to Harris’s absence.
As both campaigns fight for this critical swing county, the challenge for Harris lies not just in organizing but in energizing key voter blocs like the Black community, which could be pivotal in determining the outcome of the 2024 election.
Trump Continues Election Momentum
This example of Trump gaining more ground among Black voters – compared to 2020 – and Kamala Harris losing ground with them, specifically in the swing state of Pennsylvania, is another reason why Trump has all the momentum right now.
If the presidential election were held today, Donald Trump could very well win reelection, based off swing state polling.
His positive momentum, especially in the wake of Kamala Harris’s disastrous 60 Minutes interview has Democrats panicking.
They see the many polls that are out and know that a Trump presidency could very well be on the horizon.
There is still plenty of time left until election day, however, so anything can happen, but as for Donald Trump, he and his campaign are in a solid spot right now.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
