In a final push to energize voters before Election Day, the Harris-Walz campaign organized buses to transport supporters from New York City to Pennsylvania, sparking controversy over its tactics in the crucial swing state. On November 2, a group of around 30 Harris supporters boarded a bus from the Bronx to Philadelphia to rally support for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, as they approach the last stretch of the 2024 election.
According to a report from the Bronx Times, Harris campaign organizers focused on mobilizing existing supporters rather than persuading undecided voters. “In preparation for the bus trip to Philadelphia, the campaign directed volunteers at this late stage to focus on generating excitement and preparation among those already planning to vote for Harris,” the outlet reported, citing a statement from DaiQuan Cain, a campaign volunteer from the Bronx who coordinated the trip. “I’m very confident, and I am optimistic about our chances going into the final days before the election,” Cain added.
For many participants, this cross-state trip was not their first involvement in campaign efforts. Supporters were able to sign up through the official Harris-Walz website, entering their zip codes to find mobilization events near them, including bus rides to campaign rallies.
Jennie Nawrocki, a special education teacher from the Bronx, signed up to join the rally after discovering the event through the campaign site. “If I meet an independent voter, I’m gonna say vote for Harris. And if I meet a Trump voter, I’m gonna say it too,” Nawrocki told the Bronx Times, reflecting the campaign’s persistence in targeting Pennsylvania voters.
Sarah McClure, a resident of Harlem, joined the effort after hearing about similar trips from friends. “I think this is one of the most important elections in our lifetime,” she said. For McClure and other attendees, traveling to Pennsylvania is an opportunity to help ensure a Harris victory in a state both campaigns see as a tipping point in the election.
The November 2 rally saw nine buses organized by the Harris-Walz campaign, shuttling supporters from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to Philadelphia. Around 10 a.m., the group began their journey, picking up additional volunteers from Co-op City before heading to Philadelphia’s Triumph Baptist Church. Campaign staff briefed the volunteers there, equipping them with campaign materials and maps for neighborhood canvassing.
Former New York Assembly Member and former Democratic National Committee vice-chair Michael Blake spoke to the group, encouraging them to be “positively aggressive” while campaigning in Philadelphia. “As we know, Pennsylvania is essential,” he said. Blake’s remarks underscored the high stakes for the Harris-Walz ticket, which has faced intense scrutiny over its campaign methods in Pennsylvania.
This isn’t the first time Harris’s campaign has drawn attention for unconventional tactics in Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, her team hosted high-profile concerts featuring popular artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Usher before campaign rallies. The events sparked criticism that the campaign was using music events to attract large crowds who might be there more for the entertainment than for political support. Critics argued that the concerts created an inflated impression of the campaign’s popularity, with crowds drawn by the allure of free performances rather than genuine enthusiasm for the candidate.
The Harris campaign’s focus on Pennsylvania highlights the state’s importance in the 2024 election, with both major parties intensifying efforts to sway voters in the battleground. For Harris, ensuring strong turnout in Pennsylvania could make a significant difference, given the state’s pivotal role in recent election outcomes.
However, the campaign’s tactic of bussing supporters from neighboring states has sparked criticism from opponents. Republican strategists have argued that importing supporters from New York misrepresents local enthusiasm in Pennsylvania and raises questions about the campaign’s grassroots support in the state.
“The Harris campaign should be focused on winning over Pennsylvania voters, not bussing in out-of-state supporters to create an illusion of local support,” one Republican operative commented. These criticisms echo past debates on the ethics and effectiveness of bringing out-of-state volunteers into battleground states to boost rally numbers.
Meanwhile, Harris’s supporters argue that the outreach is part of a larger strategy to engage young, urban voters who might be less likely to turn out at the polls. By providing transportation and rally access, they believe the campaign encourages higher voter engagement, especially among historically underrepresented groups.
As Election Day looms, both campaigns are honing in on critical swing states like Pennsylvania, mobilizing volunteers, and maximizing voter turnout efforts. Whether this final push will yield the turnout the Harris-Walz campaign hopes for remains to be seen. Pennsylvania has long been a battleground that often leans narrowly, and both parties are aware of how critical each vote could be in deciding the state’s electoral outcome.
The Harris-Walz campaign’s busing initiative underscores the intense competition for Pennsylvania’s vote, which will likely remain in the spotlight as Election Day approaches. With tactics under scrutiny and the stakes as high as ever, the campaign’s strategy will continue to draw attention from both supporters and critics, each hoping for a different outcome on November 5.
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