With just two weeks remaining until the November 5th election, concerns are growing within Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign regarding the pivotal “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. These states have been critical in securing Democratic victories in recent elections, but as polling continues to go against the vice president across the Midwest, they’re now teetering on the edge of disaster.
A senior campaign official acknowledged concerns, especially about Michigan, where recent internal strategy discussions have centered, according to NBC News.
Recent discussions have centered on the possibility of an anomaly happening this year with just part of the blue wall breaking its way. The conversations have focused on whether Michigan or Wisconsin “fall” to former President Donald Trump while the two other states go blue, according to three sources with knowledge of the campaign’s strategy.
Losing Wisconsin or Michigan would mean that even if Harris secures Pennsylvania — where both Harris and Trump have spent the most time and resources — she would not reach the necessary 270 electoral votes to win the White House without winning another battleground state or possibly two.
“There has been a thought that maybe Michigan or Wisconsin will fall off,” said a senior Harris campaign official, who stressed that the bigger concern is over Michigan. Two other people with knowledge of campaign strategy — who, like others in this article, were granted anonymity to speak candidly — also underscored deep concern about Michigan. Those people still believe that all the states are close and that there are alternative routes to victory.
A Harris campaign spokesperson pushed back against the notion about deep concerns over Michigan, pointing to recent public polling. A Detroit News poll conducted Oct. 1-4 found Harris, who was campaigning in Michigan on Monday, holding a slight lead in the state, as did a Washington Post poll on Monday.
“We absolutely are competing to win Michigan,” Harris campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said, noting Harris’ presence there this week. “We think we will win Michigan.”
Michigan’s large Arab and Muslim population has raised concerns within the Democratic Party, particularly in light of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. During one of her first campaign events, Harris got angry at pro-Palestine activists during a rally outside of Detroit.
According to a recent Arab News/YouGov poll, 45 percent of respondents indicated Arab Americans are more likely to vote for the Republican nominee while 43 percent expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris. Additionally, 4 percent said they would back Green Party candidate Jill Stein, 6 percent remained undecided, and 2 percent declined to disclose their choice.
The last eight polls in the Real Clear Politics average have shown Trump either tied or in the lead in Michigan. Seven of the last eight could be said for Pennsylvania.
