In the 2024 election, no state is more fiercely contested than Pennsylvania. With its 19 electoral votes, this battleground state could once again decide who takes the White House. Both campaigns are pouring time, money, and energy into the state, knowing full well that Pennsylvania has the power to swing the entire election.
It’s a state where blue-collar workers, suburban voters, and rural conservatives all collide, creating a political battleground that neither side can afford to lose.
The Trump campaign has been especially focused on Pennsylvania, holding rallies and deploying ads across every corner of the state. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris and her team are working hard to rally Democratic voters, appealing to the cities and suburbs that were key to Biden’s 2020 victory.
But the polls are close—razor thin, in fact. With Harris leading by just over 1%, this election could easily turn into another nail-biter. Both sides know that winning Pennsylvania is crucial, and neither is leaving anything to chance.
From Daily Caller:
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said during an interview at The Atlantic Festival that former President Donald Trump has a “special” bond with voters in his state that deepened after the July 13 assassination attempt…“Trump has created a special kind of a hold … he’s remade the party and he has a special kind of place in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman told interviewer Jeffrey Goldberg. “And I think that only deepened after that first assassination attempt.”
Fetterman Acknowledges Trump’s “Special Bond” with Pennsylvania
Despite the high stakes, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman admitted that Donald Trump has built a unique connection with Pennsylvania voters. During an interview at The Atlantic Festival, Fetterman addressed Trump’s enduring popularity in the state, particularly following a dramatic assassination attempt at a rally in Butler County on July 13.
Trump was left slightly wounded, but two attendees were seriously injured, and the incident tragically took the life of former volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore. The event only seemed to strengthen Trump’s bond with his supporters.
“Trump has created a special kind of hold … he’s remade the party, and he has a special kind of place in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said. He suggested that the assassination attempt deepened that bond even further.
Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania in the Senate, wasn’t shy about the reality that Trump’s connection to voters in his state runs deep—something that Kamala Harris may find difficult to replicate.
A Warning from 2016
Fetterman’s comments carried a clear warning: don’t underestimate Trump in Pennsylvania. He pointed to the 2016 election as proof. Back then, Hillary Clinton was leading in the polls, but Trump managed to flip the state in the final stretch, securing a critical victory.
“Everybody thought that it was in the bag,” Fetterman recalled. “But that’s not the energy and the other kinds of things that were really consistent with what I’m witnessing all across.”
It’s a warning Harris and her team would do well to heed. While she currently leads Trump in Pennsylvania by a slim margin, Fetterman knows that polls can be deceiving, especially in a state like his. Pennsylvania voters are famously unpredictable, and in a contest this tight, anything can happen.
Trump’s Resilient Base
What’s clear is that Trump’s support in Pennsylvania remains formidable. The assassination attempt in July was a shocking moment, but it seems to have only galvanized his base. In a state where many voters feel forgotten by Washington, Trump’s outsider status and populist rhetoric continue to resonate.
The rally where the attempt on his life occurred was packed with supporters, and since then, Trump has doubled down on his commitment to Pennsylvania, making the state a centerpiece of his campaign strategy.
Fetterman acknowledged this reality, noting that Trump’s presence in Pennsylvania feels different than in other states. “He’s remade the party,” Fetterman said, pointing to Trump’s influence over the GOP, which has shifted to align more with his brand of politics. Even as national polling shows Trump trailing Harris by a narrow 1.9%, Pennsylvania remains a key battleground where the former president’s appeal is strong.
Harris’ Slim Lead and the Polling Challenge
Despite Trump’s deep roots in Pennsylvania, the polls show Harris leading by a slim margin. According to the RealClearPolling average, she holds a 1.0% lead in a head-to-head matchup with Trump.
However, when third-party candidates like Dr. Jill Stein, Cornel West, and Chase Oliver are factored in, her lead grows slightly to 2.17%. Nationally, Harris also holds a slight edge, but the race remains incredibly tight.
But as Fetterman reminded voters, the polls aren’t always reliable, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania. Clinton’s polling lead in 2016 proved to be an illusion, and there’s no reason to believe this year will be any different.
Trump has a knack for outperforming the polls in Pennsylvania, and his campaign is betting on history repeating itself.
A Tight Race to the Finish
As Election Day approaches, all eyes will be on Pennsylvania. With its blend of rural conservatism and urban liberalism, the state remains one of the most unpredictable in the nation. Both Trump and Harris are fighting tooth and nail for every vote, and the result here could very well decide the outcome of the entire election.
For Trump, the goal is clear: rebuild the coalition that won him Pennsylvania in 2016 and ride the momentum from his deeply loyal base to victory. For Harris, it’s about holding onto the fragile lead she’s built and avoiding the missteps that cost Clinton the state eight years ago. In this high-stakes election, Pennsylvania could once again be the ultimate decider.
Key Takeaways:
- Pennsylvania is the key battleground state, with both campaigns heavily investing time and money.
- Sen. Fetterman acknowledged Trump’s deep bond with Pennsylvania voters, strengthened after a July assassination attempt.
- Despite a slim lead in polls, Harris faces the same challenge Clinton did in 2016, with Trump’s base remaining strong.
Source: Daily Caller
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