Key members of Kamala Harris’s campaign in Pennsylvania have publicly aired grievances about the management of the operation, which is critical for the upcoming election in November.
A significant divide has emerged within Harris’s team as the state enters its mail-in voting period, raising concerns about their ability to effectively engage voters in this key battleground state.
BREAKING — Top Democrats in Pennsylvania are worried Harris’ operation is being poorly run, reports POLITICO.
Democrats have been concerned for months that Harris’ campaign doesn’t understand Pennsylvania and isn’t connecting with ‘voters of color’ in Philly and Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/IHaUIp0JDs
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) October 16, 2024
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At the center of the controversy is campaign manager Nikky Liu, a Pittsburgh native.
Insiders indicate that there is growing frustration with Liu’s leadership, particularly regarding her focus on persuadable voters in Philadelphia. “I have concerns about Nikki Liu,” said Ryan Boyer, the head of the city’s influential building trades council. “I don’t think she understands Philadelphia.”
This sentiment was echoed by various Black and Latino leaders who met with Harris weeks prior to express their concerns.
They requested that Liu and Harris’s deputy chief of staff, Sergio Gonzales, improve the campaign’s visibility and engagement at local events.
Leaders in the community have pointed out that the campaign’s surrogate operations seem lacking, describing them as “flailing and rudderless” when it comes to connecting with diverse voting blocs. Liu did not respond to a request for comment regarding these issues.
As the campaign gears up, the stakes are high.
Journalist Mark Halperin: “The winner of Pennsylvania … is in the driver’s seat”
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 16, 2024
The Harris and Trump campaigns have invested a combined $500 million into the Philadelphia television market, flooding it with advertising.
Many Democrats acknowledge that without a strong ground game involving door-knocking and get-out-the-vote efforts, they risk tipping the scales in favor of Trump.
“I feel like we’re going to win here, but we’re going to win it in spite of the Harris state campaign,” one Democratic elected official commented, speaking on the condition of anonymity to express their frustration. “Pennsylvania is such a mess, and it’s incredibly frustrating.”
In an attempt to quell the dissent within the party, Harris’s national campaign manager, Julie Chávez Rodriguez, stated, “Our campaign is running the largest and most sophisticated operation in Pennsylvania history.”
She emphasized that there are “50 coordinated offices and nearly 400 staff on the ground,” and noted that they have made significant investments in advertising targeting Black and Latino voters since August 2023. “We are leaving no stone unturned,” she added.
In response to concerns about Trump’s campaign efforts, spokesperson Kush Desai pointed to their outreach strategies involving two dozen surrogates focusing on Latino engagement in Reading and outreach to the Black community in Philadelphia. “There’s no part of the commonwealth that we’re ignoring,” Desai said.
However, frustrations persist among campaign insiders. Liu has been described by some as “AWOL” and criticized for fostering a culture that disrespects influential Democratic leaders.
An example cited is the underutilization of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, who could serve as a powerful spokeswoman for Harris, given her tough-on-crime message and centrist stance.
“We need young African American men to come home. We need African American women … to come out in record numbers, and disaffected African Americans,” Boyer stated, underscoring the need for credible surrogates in the community. “And Nikki Liu was slow to get to them,” he added.
A poll conducted last month showed Trump with a 2% lead, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the election’s outcome in Pennsylvania.
As both campaigns intensify their efforts, the internal dynamics of Harris’s team may play a crucial role in determining whether the Democrats can maintain their footing in this pivotal swing state.
The upcoming weeks will be critical for both parties as they seek to secure the votes needed for success in November.
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