Harris Faces Challenges in Pennsylvania Campaign Amid Leadership Concerns
Internal Concerns Over Leadership and Voter Outreach
Topic:
Politics
by MPeriod
Posted 1 hour ago
With Pennsylvania seen as a key battleground in the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign in the state has come under scrutiny. Internal concerns from top Pennsylvania Democrats over how the campaign is being managed have created tensions, particularly around voter outreach and leadership effectiveness.
Concerns About Leadership and Voter Engagement
Many of Pennsylvania’s Democratic leaders have expressed frustration with Harris' in-state operation, citing a lack of connection between Harris' team and key party figures, especially in the Philadelphia area. Some have pointed to her Pennsylvania campaign manager, Nikki Lu, as not having the local knowledge necessary to drive turnout in the critical Philadelphia region, where success hinges on robust engagement with voters of color.
Ryan Boyer, head of Philadelphia’s influential Building Trades Council, voiced his concerns:
“I have concerns about Nikki Lu. I don’t think she understands Philadelphia.”
The city, known for its diverse electorate, particularly among Black and Latino voters, is a focal point for the Harris campaign, but local Democratic leaders worry that missteps in engaging these communities could cost them the state.
Closed-Door Meetings and Calls for Change
Frustration with the campaign’s approach led to a series of private meetings between Democratic leaders and Harris aides, where local Black and Latino leaders urged the campaign to increase their presence at community events and to improve their surrogate operations. Leaders like Mariel Joy Kornblith Martin, the former Latino coalition manager for Harris in Pennsylvania, emphasized the need for better tools and infrastructure to reach minority voters.
In a memo shared with party leaders, Martin wrote:
“Please give us the tools to win... you do not win PA without Latinos, and you do not win the presidency without PA.”
Despite these concerns, Harris’ campaign has recently added new staff, and some Democrats believe the situation is improving, although time is running short as the election nears.
The Importance of Pennsylvania in the 2024 Election
Both the Harris and Donald Trump campaigns view Pennsylvania as critical to their path to victory. The state has seen over $500 million in TV ad spending, more than any other state, underscoring its importance in determining the outcome of the election. Harris' strategy depends heavily on turning out Democratic voters in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and surrounding suburbs, areas that rely on strong turnout from voters of color.
However, with concerns about engagement, some Democratic leaders fear that any misstep could tip the state—and potentially the election—away from Harris. One Democratic elected official, speaking anonymously, stated:
“I feel like we’re going to win here, but we’re going to win it in spite of the Harris state campaign. Pennsylvania is such a mess, and it’s incredibly frustrating.”
The Harris Campaign’s Response
National campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez has defended the Harris campaign's efforts in Pennsylvania, stating that their outreach to voters of color is the strongest in the state’s history. She emphasized that the campaign is leaving "no stone unturned" with 50 coordinated offices and nearly 400 staff on the ground:
“We have invested in targeted advertising to Black and Latino voters starting in August of 2023, and we have now spent more than any previous presidential campaign on outreach to these communities.”
Chávez Rodriguez added that Harris is actively campaigning across the state, emphasizing voter turnout in key areas.
Leadership and Organizational Issues
Despite these reassurances, the challenges within the Pennsylvania operation have led to more significant discussions about leadership. Nikki Lu, who hails from Pittsburgh, has been at the center of the criticism, with some leaders suggesting she lacks the deep ties necessary to connect with the Black and Latino communities in southeastern Pennsylvania. Some Democrats also noted her perceived absence from important campaign efforts, with one official stating Lu was “AWOL.”
The situation has been further complicated by Pennsylvania’s regional differences, which often make it difficult to run a cohesive campaign across the state. Still, the level of frustration being voiced is unusual, with many attributing it to the high stakes of the race.
Campaign Surrogates and Community Outreach
One of the key issues raised by local leaders is the campaign's failure to fully utilize popular figures within the community. For example, Ryan Boyer pointed to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker as someone who could help Harris make inroads with disillusioned Black voters and working-class white men. Parker, who won office on a tough-on-crime platform, is seen as having credibility with key voter blocs, but Boyer criticized the campaign’s slow efforts to engage her as a surrogate.
Recent Changes in the Campaign
In response to these concerns, Harris' team has made some changes that have been well received by Pennsylvania Democrats. The addition of Paulette Aniskoff, a former Obama campaign field director, as a senior adviser has been seen as a positive move, potentially diminishing Lu’s role. Additionally, advisers Brendan McPhillips and Kellan White, both with strong ties to Philadelphia, have been instrumental in helping address some of the campaign's shortcomings.
While some improvements have been made, there is still a sense of urgency among Democrats. As Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks noted:
“There’s been a lot of struggles... folks coming into Philadelphia that are making assumptions about what needs to happen in Philadelphia and not necessarily having the relationships to move Philadelphia politics.”
Moving Forward in a Tight Race
Although concerns remain, some Pennsylvania Democrats have expressed cautious optimism that the campaign is heading in the right direction. Danilo Burgos, co-chair of the Latinos con Harris group, said that while there were initial concerns about the campaign's outreach to Latino voters, recent changes have addressed many of those worries.
“Everybody’s very nervous. And I think that as we get closer, people get more tense. And they’re more vocal.”
With Pennsylvania being such a pivotal state, there’s no margin for error in either campaign. Democrats are hopeful that Harris’ in-state operation will fully mobilize voters of color and deliver a victory in a race where every vote will count.
