Final Stretch of Campaigning: Trump and Harris’ Strategies and Signs of Fear in One
The candidate’s most valuable resource is their time. Their choice of locations, company, and words define their position in the race more than any advice from consultants.
Based on their recent and upcoming locations, it’s evident that Kamala Harris is feeling the pressure.
With limited time left, a confident Democratic candidate would be targeting swing voters, secure in the knowledge that their base support is solid. However, Harris seems to be focusing on securing her base and reaching out to essential voting groups.
Instead of reaching out to swing voters, Harris has spent time targeting one of the most loyal Democratic demographics: African Americans.
Historically, African Americans show strong support for Democratic candidates, but recent polling shows Harris trailing in this area. As a result, she has been actively campaigning in black communities to solidify support.
Her campaign stops in cities like Erie, Detroit, and Philadelphia have all been aimed at appealing to black voters.
She has also made efforts to connect with black leaders and will continue campaigning with former President Obama and Michelle Obama in key states.
While Harris’s focus this week is primarily on black voters, she is also targeting Republican voters with bipartisan efforts to criticize Donald Trump for his “democracy” stance.
Meanwhile, Trump has been actively engaging with swing voters, including holding town halls and rallies in various locations.
He has also strategically targeted black men, a demographic where Harris is struggling to gain support, by featuring local heroes and former sports stars at his rallies.
This week, Trump will continue his outreach efforts with rallies in different states and communities.
The travel patterns of the vice-presidential candidates reflect those of their respective campaigns. Tim Walz is focusing on events in black communities, while J.D. Vance is targeting rural and suburban areas.
As the election nears, the candidates’ travel schedules suggest a more favorable outcome for Trump than for Harris.
If Harris continues to focus solely on the Democratic base in the final days before the election, concerns within the party are likely to increase.
Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is a political analyst and commentator.
