By CHRIS MEGERIAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — This yr’s presidential election may come all the way down to microscopic margins, so Kamala Harris is attempting to find votes in even essentially the most unlikely of locations. One among her newest targets is Donald Trump’s demographic base — white individuals who didn’t attend school.
“It’s powerful turf,” mentioned Dan Kanninen, the Harris marketing campaign’s battleground states director. “However exhibiting up is the way you peel away the votes that it’s essential to win.”
Kanninen and different members of the Democratic vp’s group level to what they consider are optimistic alerts in public polls that Harris could also be making small inroads. Such shifts are tough to measure, significantly in polls the place subgroups of voters can have vast margins of error.
However any erosion that does happen could possibly be important as a result of white voters with out a school diploma make up a large share of the voters. Round 4 in 10 voters fell into this class in 2020, in line with AP VoteCast.
So the Harris marketing campaign has been operating ads on DraftKings, a sports activities betting web site, that decision Harris and her operating mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the “strongest line up.” One other model on Yahoo Sports activities options “stats,” equivalent to reducing taxes for the center class and $25,000 in down cost help for first-time homebuyers.
An commercial on the online game web site IGN presents Harris like a personality in a job enjoying saga. Her rankings for “charisma” and “intelligence” are excessive, however “deception” and “collateral damager” are low. “Choose this president,” it says.
Extra ads have run throughout soccer video games, highlighting Harris’ promise to be a president for all Individuals, and sports activities speak radio. Walz is a former highschool soccer coach, so he’s been making the rounds at sporting occasions as nicely.
Off the airwaves, Harris is relying closely on labor unions to make the case to their members and communities. And he or she talks steadily about financial considerations like worth gouging that she hopes will enchantment to working class voters.
“Folks need someone who’s going to be on their facet,” Kanninen mentioned.
Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster, was uncertain that Harris was making any inroads with white working class voters. If something, he mentioned, her technique was extra a mirrored image of her flush finances.
“If you’re awash in cash as apparently the Harris marketing campaign is, you go after something that’s remotely attainable,” he mentioned.
After all, Ayres mentioned, “in a lifeless warmth race, any voters you possibly can squeeze from anyplace could possibly be important.”
Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the Republican Nationwide Committee, dismissed Harris’ efforts.
“Kamala Harris is on protection as a result of she is shedding floor with long-time Democrat constituencies, like Black males,” Kelly mentioned.
Kanninen mentioned the Harris marketing campaign was undeterred.
“There have been powerful conversations typically,” he mentioned. “However powerful conversations can yield outcomes, and in a really shut race these outcomes may be decisive.”
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