Trump to Rally Pennsylvania Voters Near Biden’s Scranton Amid Harris Surge

Donald Trump is set to gather support in northeastern Pennsylvania this Saturday, targeting voters in a crucial battleground state. This area, with a significant population of conservative, white working-class individuals, is just a stone’s throw from President Joe Biden’s hometown and plays a vital role in Trump’s strategy to reclaim the presidency.

In both the 2016 and 2020 elections, Trump enjoyed overwhelming success in the county that encompasses the city of Wilkes-Barre, known for its blue-collar roots. This Rust Belt region, adjacent to Biden’s native Scranton, offers Trump a chance to capitalize on perceived weaknesses within the Democratic Party as Biden wraps up his reelection campaign.

The rally comes at a time when Democrats are gearing up for their four-day national convention, set to begin on Monday in Chicago. This event marks the party’s official endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as their nominee. Harris stepping in for Biden, less than four months before the upcoming November election, has reinvigorated the Democratic base and presents a new hurdle for Trump.

Trump has been vocally critical of Harris, linking her to the Biden administration’s economic challenges, particularly ongoing inflation. He has also dismissed her recent proposal aimed at combating price gouging, likening it to policies seen in communist regimes. Trump argues that a federal ban on food price gouging could lead to shortages, rationing, and widespread hunger.

While campaigning in Pennsylvania, the nation’s second-largest natural gas producer, Trump has pointed out Harris’s prior opposition to fracking—a controversial extraction method for oil and gas. Although her campaign has indicated a shift away from this hardline stance, her previous position during the 2020 presidential race still looms over her current efforts.

Some Democrats in Pennsylvania do recognize the challenges posed by Trump’s campaign but maintain that economic concerns remain at the forefront for voters in the state. In an interview, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis noted that there is a palpable energy building among supporters, especially following Harris’s rally in Philadelphia where she introduced her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The campaign has established 36 field offices, especially targeting areas with a stronger Republican presence.

Davis remarked on the shift in dynamics, stating that the enthusiasm has markedly increased for Harris. He critiqued Trump’s approach, suggesting that the former president resorts to “rambling rants” and personal attacks against Harris instead of focusing on policy.

Harris is slated to embark on a bus tour beginning on Sunday in Pittsburgh, with further planned stops including Rochester, a small town in the northern part of the state. Meanwhile, Trump has scheduled a visit on Monday to a plant specializing in the production of nuclear fuel containers located in York. Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, is expected to join him in Philadelphia on the same day.

This rally in Wilkes-Barre is notable as it marks Trump’s fifth event at the arena, located in Luzerne County, where he has previously achieved significant victories. In contrast, Biden was victorious in the nearby Lackawanna County, where he has long championed his working-class background. 

There is visible unrest among Biden’s loyal supporters, particularly in this historically industrial city of 76,000, following pressures from party leaders for the president to step back. Diane Munley, a 63-year-old resident, shared her experiences of advocating for Biden by contacting numerous congressional members, expressing her initial disappointment but eventual acceptance of his decision. She is now wholeheartedly backing Harris.

Munley reflected on the current enthusiasm surrounding Harris’s campaign, acknowledging that her commitment has shifted dramatically: “I can’t deny the enthusiasm that’s been going on with this ticket right now. I am so into it,” she shared. “It just wasn’t happening with Joe, and I couldn’t see it at the time because I was so connected to him.”

She mentioned that within her circle of around 200 people, there is a unified front in support for Harris and Walz: “We are all-in on Kamala Harris. All-in 110%.”