Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is focusing on a strategic approach to overcome potential losses among some key demographics in Michigan. These trouble spots include White, working-class voters, young Black men, and sections of the Arab American community. To make up for this support, the campaign aims to increase backing from White college-educated suburban voters, young voters, peel off some Republicans, and capitalize on early voting in Michigan to secure victory in the election.
In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden won Michigan by a narrow margin after former President Donald Trump won it in the previous election. Recent polls have shown a tightening race in Pennsylvania and Michigan, while Wisconsin remains a closely contested battleground. Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell believes the race in Michigan will be very close and could come down to voter turnout for either candidate to secure victory.
The Harris campaign officials have identified three strong demographics in Michigan: older Black voters, young voters, and White, college-educated voters who are disillusioned with Trump. They believe they can exceed past performance in engaging these demographic groups and secure their votes in the upcoming election.
The campaign strategy revolves around increasing early voting numbers in Michigan and then focusing more narrowly on convincing undecided voters as Election Day approaches. The ground game includes 52 offices across the state, engagement with college campuses to reach young voters, and specific outreach to shore up areas of weakness identified by the campaign.
The campaign is also specifically targeting their weaknesses by unveiling economic proposals aimed at Black voters, deploying surrogates to engage with communities on a local level, and addressing concerns within the Arab American community. Harris recently met with Arab American leaders in Michigan to address their concerns and build support. Emgage Action, an organization focused on boosting Muslim American votes, endorsed Harris with some reservations, indicating divisions within the community that the campaign is working to address.
Overall, the Harris campaign is focused on a targeted approach to secure victory in Michigan by engaging key demographics, increasing early voting numbers, and addressing weaknesses in their support base. By focusing on specific outreach efforts, ground game tactics, and engaging with communities on a local level, they aim to rally support and overcome potential losses among certain voter groups in Michigan to secure victory in the upcoming election.
