Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a frontrunner for Senate in the swing state of Michigan has begun sounding the alarm. Over the weekend, the current member of the House warned donors last week that internal polling from her Senate campaign shows Kamala Harris is “underwater” in Michigan, according to a video clip obtained by Axios. She seems concerned that Harris will sink her own race.
In a virtual fundraiser alongside Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey, Slotkin shared her concerns, stating, “I’m not feeling my best right now about where we are on Kamala Harris in a place like Michigan.” She added that Harris is trailing in their campaign’s internal polls.
THERE IT IS!
Slotkin: Kamala is “underwater” in Michigan.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 29, 2024
This revelation comes as Michigan is seen as a crucial state in the 2024 election. Harris’ pathway to victory relies heavily on maintaining the “Blue Wall” states—Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. If former President Donald Trump were to win the Sun Belt, flipping just one of these key states would be enough for him to retake the White House.
Polling data suggests a tight race. According to FiveThirtyEight, Harris holds a slim 2.4-point lead in Michigan. A recent New York Times poll had the Democrat winning by merely one percent, while a poll from Atlas Intel had Trump winning by four points.
Slotkin is in her own close race for the Senate seat, competing against former Rep. Mike Rogers. Michigan is a top target for Senate Republicans, with millions of dollars flowing into the contest. Despite public polling showing Slotkin with a modest lead, Republican internal data suggests the race is tightening, with both candidates potentially in a statistical tie, according to Axios.
A Republican win in Michigan could tilt the Senate in the GOP’s favor, especially as Republicans focus on key Senate races in Ohio and Montana. Winning Michigan would be a significant upset and would almost certainly guarantee a Republican majority in the Senate.
