Harris heads to ‘Trump country’ to appeal to Republican voters

Savannah, Georgia: Kamala Harris has made a bold pitch to rural voters in Deep South “Trump country”, casting herself as a president for everyone while barnstorming areas that Democratic nominees have long ignored.

Amid a wave of enthusiasm from left-leaning voters, the US vice president has embarked on a highly targeted strategy to appeal to people beyond the Democratic base in areas that have traditionally been loyal to Republicans.

“My entire career, I’ve only had one client: the people,” the former prosecutor told a rally in the coastal city of Savannah, repeating a line from her nomination acceptance speech.

Vice President Kamala Harris poses for photos with supporters at a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia.Credit: AP

“I believe it is the highest form of patriotism to fight for the highest ideals of our country. That is how we realise the promise of America.”

In her first burst of campaigning since last week’s Democratic National Convention, Harris and running mate Tim Walz conducted a two-day bus tour in Georgia, the southern state that helped propel President Joe Biden to victory in 2020.

Until Donald Trump narrowly lost Georgia by 11,780 votes, it had been one of the safest Republican strongholds in the country, with no Democratic presidential candidate securing victory there since Bill Clinton in 1992.

Kamala Harris listens during a campaign stop at Dottie’s Market in Savannah, Georgia.Credit: AP

But rather than just focusing on fast-growing metropolitan cities such as Atlanta, which are increasingly leaning Democrat, the Harris-Walz campaign has set its sights and resources on areas where Trump has traditionally done well, setting up 24 campaign offices across the state to specifically target more black and working-class voters.

After arriving in Savannah wearing the Chuck Taylor sneakers that became her trademark at the last election, Harris and Walz dropped into a marching band rehearsal at Liberty County High School, about 2½ hours from Atlanta, with students largely from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Leaning into his background as a former teacher and football coach, Walz gave a pep talk about teamwork while Harris informed them: “I was in a band when I was your age.”

“Sometimes you hit the right note, sometimes you don’t,” she added.

The pair then made a pit stop at the Sandfly Barbeque, a restaurant known for its southern hospitality and Memphis-style grilled meat, to greet staff and customers.

“Everyone’s vote matters and we have to remind them of that,” Harris told a group of patrons sitting on a table in the centre of the room, one of whom stood up to give her a hug.

“Don’t listen to anyone who’s suggesting otherwise. You never want to take yourself out of the game, right?”

But it was at the rally in Savannah that Harris received a rock star reception by attendees who had lined up patiently in the searing heat – and a brief but massive storm – to get a place inside the stadium.

Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia, Credit: AP

Among them was Michelle Kilkenny, a Savannah local who said that while she “loved Joe Biden” the shift in momentum over the past few weeks had been extraordinary.

“You can just feel the hope,” she told this masthead as the crowd began an enthusiastic Mexican wave.

“We don’t want to wake up like we did in 2016 [when Hillary Clinton lost to Trump]. I’m middle class so I’ll be fine no matter who’s in, but some people I love won’t be. He’ll take us backwards with women’s rights, LGBTQIA rights, and other freedoms. We can’t let that happen.”

Voter Loshane Grimes was confident Harris would win provided people turned out to vote on election day.

“If we all show up, she will be our president,” she said, holding up a sign saying “Georgia For Harris”.

Others, however, were less enthused. On the road leading to the venue, one man stood on a corner with a large handmade sign saying: “Trump or Tramp”.

Near the entrance, a group of pro-Palestine protesters accused Harris of being no different to Biden on Gaza policy and demanded the US stop supplying weapons to Israel.

And inside the venue, a protester interrupted Harris’ usual stump speech while she was attacking Trump’s “full-on assault” on abortion and other fundamental freedoms, forcing her to pivot.

“Let me just say this: the president and I are working around the clock,” she said, forcefully. “We’ve got to get a hostage deal done and a ceasefire deal now.”

Harris’ bus tour was her second recent trip to Georgia, following a rally in Atlanta earlier this month, featuring rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

The fact that Harris and Walz are barnstorming Georgia at all says a lot about how much the race for the White House has changed since Biden suspended his campaign for re-election last month.

Until then, many Democratic strategists conceded the so-called “sun belt”, the fast-growing and diverse states of Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina, were breaking Trump’s way, and the party should instead focus its attention on the crucial “rust belt” battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Alro Steel in Michigan on Thursday.Credit: AP

Now, as polls suggest, all seven states are very much in play.

“I don’t think ever in our history have we had a president or vice president visit us twice in the same year, let alone six months,” said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson.

Trump, meanwhile, spent the day campaigning in Michigan, railing against the Biden-Harris administration’s economic record and vowing he would make IVF treatment free for families if he wins a second term.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris poses for photos at a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia.Credit: AP

“I’m announcing today in a major statement that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment,” he said at an event in the Midwest state, seeking to blunt an issue Democrats were hoping to campaign on.

He did not provide additional details but noted: “We want more babies, to put it nicely.”

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