Half of Pennsylvania swing voters unsure about backing Harris: Axios
3 Min Read
Biden narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2020, and Harris will need to either retain or rebuild that coalition to claim victory.
-
Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a campaign event in Pittsfield, Mass., on July 27, 2024. (AP)
In the latest focus group conducted by Engagious/Sago, just six out of 12 Pennsylvania swing voters who supported Donald Trump in 2016 but switched to Joe Biden in 2020 are now fully committed to backing Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
The remaining voters are split, with two planning to return to Trump and four leaning toward Harris but still undecided.
The swing voters expressed a range of reasons for their uncertainty. Some questioned Harris' leadership, while others cited lingering concerns about the economy under the current administration.
One voter noted, "I want to see how she handles things before making my decision."
While the majority of the group believes they will vote, many are grappling with mixed emotions about the candidates.
Read more: Harris shifts to stricter border policies ahead of 2024: Axios
This focus group, though not statistically representative, offers insight into the challenges Harris may face in securing Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.
Biden narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2020, and Harris will need to either retain or rebuild that coalition to claim victory.
Beyond concerns over the candidates, voters in the group also voiced unease about the potential for political violence after the election, referencing events like the January 6th Capitol riot.
At the same time, many expressed fatigue with the repeated framing of elections as "the most consequential of their lifetime," indicating skepticism toward such warnings.
October debate?
On September 21, Harris challenged Donald Trump to another debate ahead of the US presidential election, accepting CNN's invitation for an October 23 event.
Her campaign said that Americans deserve to see another debate before voting.
Trump, however, has already dismissed the prospect of confronting Harris again after many analysts saw Harris as the winner of the previous debate, which took place on September 10.
Read more: Trump rules out another presidential debate against Harris
Earlier this month, Federal prosecutors accused Donald Trump of resorting to criminal actions in an attempt to remain in power after losing the 2020 election.
The filing, submitted by special counsel Jack Smith’s team, follows a Supreme Court ruling that limited the prosecution's scope by granting former presidents broad immunity.
The 165-page document, likely the prosecution's final chance before the November 5 election, alleges that Trump employed deceit and desperation, citing testimonies from his aides and remarks such as "You still have to fight like hell," and dismissing concerns for Vice President Mike Pence during the Capitol attack.
Read more: Special counsel reveals Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election
In another meeting, Pence suggested Trump accept the results and consider running in 2024, but Trump dismissed the advice, ignoring court rulings and officials, including Republicans, who affirmed his loss and rejected his fraud claims.
The filing asserts that Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election were a private scheme, with prosecutors accusing him of resorting to criminal actions to stay in power.
