Harris’ visit and celebrity endorsement fuel Democratic optimism for Georgia in 2024
WASHINGTON – On July 30, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris made her first campaign trip to Georgia as a presidential candidate, rallying in Atlanta with rapper Megan Thee Stallion, drawing new attention to the state in the race against Republican Donald Trump. With less than 100 days remaining before the election, Democrats are re-evaluating their strategy and focusing on key swing states like Georgia, which they narrowly won in 2020.
Georgia as a Critical Battleground
After President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 race on July 21 and his endorsement of Harris, the Democratic campaign has intensified in Georgia. While the state was a hard-fought victory for Biden by just 0.2% in 2020, some Democrats now view Georgia as a viable target once again. Senator Jon Ossoff remarked that Harris’ candidacy has made Georgia a significant battleground in 2024, predicting a Democratic win.
Campaign Momentum and Polls
Polling data has shown Harris closing the gap with Trump in recent surveys. Despite Trump’s lead in some polls, including a 2-point lead in a Wall Street Journal poll published on July 26, other surveys, such as one from Reuters/Ipsos, show Harris with a slight advantage.
Harris has outperformed Biden in several key voter demographics, particularly among young people, Black voters, and Hispanic voters. Since Biden’s withdrawal, Harris has raised $200 million for her campaign and gained 170,000 new volunteers. Additionally, she has been engaging swing states like Georgia more aggressively.
Influential Campaign Strategy
Harris’ trip to Georgia underscores her ability to energize various voter bases, with high-profile endorsements and events. The visit follows a weekend campaign by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who promoted Harris’ candidacy in Republican-dominated Forsyth County.
As the Harris campaign evaluates potential vice-presidential candidates, including Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, it’s clear that Georgia and other swing states will play a crucial role in determining the election’s outcome.
Harris’ campaign has also focused on contrasting her experience as a former district attorney and California attorney-general with Trump’s ongoing legal troubles, including charges related to attempting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
