Harris’s campaign embraces ‘underdog’ label despite leading Trump in polls

Kamala Harris’s campaign is starting September with an outlook reminiscent of an underdog, despite polls indicating a different reality. In a memo distributed on Sunday morning, Harris’s team asserted that the vice president remains the “underdog” in the race and predicted “razor-thin” margins for the upcoming November elections.

Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’s campaign manager, elaborated on this mindset. She attributed it to the ongoing influence of Donald Trump, who continues to command a strong core of supporters within the Republican party, all of whom show high motivation to support him in 2024.

O’Malley Dillon outlined how the Harris campaign plans to address the perceived challenges and secure victory in crucial battleground states this November. Recent polling data reveals that Harris has significantly narrowed the gap in various battleground states, including North Carolina and Georgia—regions previously thought to be difficult for President Joe Biden to reclaim.

The campaign is bolstered by Harris’s impressive fundraising efforts, which have reached $540 million since her campaign launch on July 21. O’Malley Dillon stated that this substantial amount will finance a comprehensive ground operation in key battleground states.

This “historic sum” is earmarked for a dynamic battleground strategy, which includes the establishment of over 312 coordinated offices and the hiring of 2,000 staff members across the states. According to O’Malley Dillon, this strategy reflects a campaign that is well-rooted in every corner of pivotal states, engaging deeply with the communities essential for success.

“During a recent Weekend of Action, more than 10,000 volunteers made nearly 900,000 calls and knocked on 150,000 doors, reaching out to over 1 million voters,” noted O’Malley Dillon. This level of grassroots mobilization, if effectively harnessed to enhance participation among Harris’s primary supporters, could shift the momentum of the race in her favor.

In contrast, Trump’s campaign has struggled to match Harris’s fundraising achievements, reporting only $137 million in July. Additionally, his campaign’s financial resources are being drained by the legal expenses associated with multiple criminal and civil proceedings he is currently facing.

On Thursday, Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, participated in a CNN interview, responding to mounting pressure from both the media and their Republican adversaries. However, the conversation was largely devoid of significant news and appeared to serve the dual purpose of mitigating criticism while maintaining the current trajectory of the race.

The head of Florida’s Democratic Party chapter expressed earlier this summer that Republicans have not managed to create an effective ground game comparable to that of their Democratic counterparts. This suggests that Harris’s campaign is well-positioned to regain ground in areas where the Democrats have faltered in previous election cycles.

Nikki Fried, head of the Florida Democratic Party, commented in a late July interview, “There is no Republican operation here. They have no offices. They have no grassroots door knocking.” Her statement reflects a broader perspective among some former Republicans who are beginning to align with Democratic initiatives. “It’s not just Democrats,” she added. “We are hearing anecdotal stories of past Republicans coming to our offices, phone-banking with us. We’re increasingly hearing from Republicans saying: ‘Maybe this is the final straw that’s going to break the MAGA base and wipe them out for this election cycle, finally returning the Republican Party to some semblance of normality.’”

As the campaign heads into the final stretch, the strategic investments in ground operations and volunteer mobilization could play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the upcoming elections.

Source: The Independent