Kamala Harris steps up campaign events in Arizona – DW – 07/27/2024

Vice President Kamala Harris has ramped up her campaign in Arizona with more than 65 scheduled events and the mobilisation of thousands of volunteers for the coming days in a bid to win the ‘hinge’ state that the Democratic Party won by just 11,000 votes in the last presidential election.

These events are part of the ‘Action Weekend’, comprising over 2,300 events across the country and the participation of around 175,000 volunteers, with which the Vice President launches the countdown to the presidential elections on November 5.

The agenda for Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 is focused on promoting Harris’ candidacy and participation in the primary elections next Tuesday, July 30, the campaign said in a statement.

Many of these programs focus on attracting Latino votes, which are crucial to the Democratic Party and have made the difference in past elections in this state.

The mobilization in Arizona began on Thursday, July 25, with the appearance of union leader Dolores Huerta, who gave her support to the campaign of Harris, who could become the first woman to be elected to the presidency of the United States.

The activist called on Latinos to support Harris and took the opportunity to attack former President Donald Trump (2017-2021), whom he described as “extremist and racist”.

Julie Chávez Rodríguez, granddaughter of activist and farmworkers’ rights defender César Chávez, met with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero this Friday as part of a strategy to encourage more support at the border.

Harris closes gap with Trump

Romero, the first Latina to hold the post, is one of several Arizona Democrats who have supported Harris on her path to the White House.

Arizona and its 11 electoral votes are considered crucial to defining who wins the presidency in November.

In 2020, now-President Joe Biden scored a historic victory by winning the traditionally Republican state of Arizona.

Sunday, July 28 will mark 100 days to the presidential election, so both parties are looking to secure votes in states crucial to their victory.

According to a recent poll, Harris has regained some of the ground Biden lost to Trump in ‘hinge’ states such as Arizona.

The Emerson College Polling survey, conducted between Monday, July 22, and Tuesday, July 23, found that support for Harris in Arizona is at 44%, while support for Trump is at 49%, with a margin of error of 3.3 points.

In previous polls before he announced his withdrawal from the Democratic presidential nomination, Biden had 40% support among Arizona voters.

MG (EFE, Univision)