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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPoll: Should the Harris/Walz campaign make stops in Ohio, Florida, and Texas?
I am of the opinion that it would not hurt them, but help the US Senate and House races there.Especially do a Town Hall in Springfield to show solidarity there for the citizenry who welcomed in Haitian immigrants.
What say you?
99 votes, 2 passes | Time left: Unlimited | |
Yes. The Harris/Walz campaign should make stops in Ohio, Florida, and Texas. | |
90 (91%) |
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No. They should not. Why waste resources? | |
9 (9%) |
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2 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
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Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
Emile
(30,119 posts)pstokely
(10,717 posts)OH, TX, FL are within reach
Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)It would needlessly divert energy, money and actual campaign hours away from the states they really need to win in November, specifically Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Emile
(30,119 posts)Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)Obama led in, or was tied with McCain in multiple Indiana polls in 2008.
There are zero polls that have Harris up in any of the three states listed.
Her campaigning there would be similar to Hillary spending time in Arizona during the final week of the 2016 campaign instead of Wisconsin. It was a pointless diversion that didn't win Her Arizona and certainly didn't help in states she missed out campaigning in because her time was spent in Arizona.
bearsfootball516
(6,512 posts)Doodley
(10,452 posts)Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)There's a very limited amount of time left in the campaign. It would be foolish to use one of those days (maybe three-plus if we're talking hitting up all these states) campaigning in a state she is not going to win.
The strategy you guys are pushing is the same strategy Hillary employed in 2016. It's the strategy that took her to Arizona in hopes of expanding the map instead of focusing on Wisconsin. And it hurt her.
The Harris campaign has enough states they're defending (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) that they will be setting up campaign stops in over the next month that diverting those resources makes zero sense.
Also, don't expect Republicans to bite just because you think they would. Trump's strategy is pretty clear: he's essentially focused on winning Pennsylvania and holding North Carolina. That's his strategy. Harris going to Ohio or Florida isn't going to suddenly make them concerned about either state because they know it's unlikely to change the outcome there.
It's like Trump campaigning in Virginia earlier this year. It didn't suddenly force Democrats to double investment in the state, or to send Harris there to counter it.
Harris gains very little from actively holding rallies in these states but she sure has a lot to lose.
HelpImSurrounded
(509 posts)Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)And this is the problem of your argument. What is trying? One stop in each state? Texas is huge. Does anyone really think one stop in Texas is going to suddenly take Harris from -5 in the polls, to a tie or the lead?
Or is trying meaning multiple stops in the state? It becomes a time and money hole.
I'll put it this way: there's a reason Harris has zero stops planned for her and Walz in these states. It's not that they don't want to try, it's that they know they can't afford to divert resources away from every other swing state that is a true toss-up at this point for states that their internal polls show they're losing.
If these were toss-ups, I'd agree. But they're not.
Kaleva
(38,256 posts)Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)Also, Sharrod Brown has no interest in tying himself to Harris in Ohio. He would not campaign with her even if she showed up.
displacedvermoter
(3,117 posts)about record amounts of money raised, use it I say!
Freethinker65
(11,150 posts)qazplm135
(7,508 posts)I'm not convinced a single visit changes anything, but those Senate races are close enough and we need an upset.
lees1975
(6,017 posts)With the way they can fly around, a stop or two in Florida, Texas, Ohio, shouldn't be a problem.
Qutzupalotl
(15,157 posts)That doesn't necessarily mean a big rally or even the candidates themselves speaking live in person. But the message of the campaign should be publicized, as in ads on tv, radio, and social media.
The 7 swing states get all the attention, leaving the other 43 out of the conversation. We need to explicitly and humbly ask for everyone's vote, no matter where they live.
Jamie Harrison has built Dean's dream of a 50-state strategy. Resources are allocated for this but mostly focused on downballot races. With some tweaks this can be made into a case for Harris/Walz tailored to the interests of each state. Because of Trump's dementia, paranoia, and criminal intent, we have a shot in unlikely places, where moderate Rs are willing to cross the aisle this time.
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Florida is close and a must win for Trump! He will be forced to pour a massive amount of resources there and take away from his spending in Penn, Wisc, and Mich.
sarisataka
(21,066 posts)Even if our chances are near zero to win those states, why give away 87 EVs without at least a token challenge? Make Republicans spend resources for their votes rather than just let them be freebies.
Every Presidential election we give Republicans about 160 free EVs as a head start. Let's start challenging for some of those votes.
Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)The closer you get to the election, the more you have to focus on the states you absolutely need to win that you're at risk of losing.
The campaign can't get distracted spending time in Texas or Ohio hoping that they surprise. Not when they are in statistical ties in five other states they need to win most of to get to 270.
Hillary did what you're saying and it hurt her. She was spending the last week of the 2016 campaign in Arizona and North Carolina when she should have been locked in the rustbelt shoring up support there.
sarisataka
(21,066 posts)It should have been a month ago and now would be a good time for a second visit just to rattle the foundations.
Our current process of ignoring the states we "can't" win means a Democrat needs at least 270 EVs to win the election. A Republican only needs about 100 because we give them a head start by not competing.
Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)But let me spell it out for you: there's a little over a month left in the campaign. Harris is essentially tied in every state Biden flipped in 2020. She is not tied in Texas, Ohio or Florida. There are zero polls that show her even leading in any of these states.
That's important because the campaign does not have an infinite amount of resources and time to do everything you're suggesting they do.
It takes a lot to plan a rally - to pay for a rally and then utilize that rally. With the campaign essentially in a toss-up situation in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, many states Harris absolutely needs to win in order to become president, it's the height of stupidity to ask that she step away from those states, even if it's just for a few days, to spend time in states she doesn't need to win - and likely won't win.
I know that many here think they know better than the campaign staff who have multiple elections under their belt but they don't. I promise you, the Harris campaign has thought everything out and strategized everything as it relates to this campaign.
If they're not holding rallies in Texas, Ohio and Florida, it's because their internals tell them those states aren't winnable and it's not a smart play to divert resources from states they absolutely need to win to these states.
It's that simple.
sarisataka
(21,066 posts)but aren't we wasting our electronic breath over this.
I am constantly seeing blue wave, land slide, leading in every swing state, polls undercounting Harris. She is at least +15, and has locked 350 EVs, with a shot at 400 or more. Do we really even have to bother voting with this election in the bag?
, lot's of
Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)Considering the whole premise of my post is that this election is extremely close, which is why she can't afford to divert attention away from the states she absolutely, positively needs to win in a month to focus on states that the last two Democratic nominees have lost.
But I'm glad you were able to get all that out of your system.
sarisataka
(21,066 posts)I agree it is close and not at all guaranteed win yet.
My point is when will we start chipping at the Republican base? There is always some reason now is not a good time so we just keep surrendering over a quarter of the EVs without a fight. That also cascades down ticket.
Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)This election season was always going to be hard for Democrats. Truthfully, if Trump had not decided to run and threw his support behind, say, Haley, I think Democrats would be a sizable underdog right now.
We're not in a situation where we have luxury of building out the map because it's a tough, very narrow path to victory. Hopefully in four years we'll be better positioned for that. Unfortunately, though, Democrats got absolutely dinged on inflation and the cost of goods, which is likely making this a much closer race than it has any business being and forcing the Harris campaign to shore up and focus on their most vulnerable areas.
JI7
(90,659 posts)DetroitLegalBeagle
(2,187 posts)Those states are very unlikely to vote for Harris. Ohio especially. PA, WI, and MI are must wins and the polls are close there, and I hear the internals are even closer. I've read on here that Slotkin was just campaigning for more money. I have been directly told by people here in Michigan that Slotkin was not lying, internals show a much different picture than what public polling is showing. So campaign hard in the must win swing states and spend some of that big warchest in the other states and force the gop to buy ads to counter them.
NCDem47
(2,588 posts)I'm sure it's the same in OH and TX. There's a halo effect of SOME media getting through to these states.
mopinko
(71,871 posts)id b willing to make a wager that at least 1 of them hits all those states.
jamie harrison believes in a 50 state strategy. there r worthy senate candidates in each of those states that wd benefit from a visit. theyll get it.
Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)The fact they haven't at any point since the convention should tell you what they think of their chances in these states. They aren't going to eat up multiple days where they could be spent in states they actually have a chance to win campaigning in states they don't need and aren't going to win anyway.
mopinko
(71,871 posts)harrison has said repeatedly that this is an anything cd happen election.
even if they didnt care about the electoral votes, u can b sure they care about the senate seats. all this is for naught if we dont hold the senate.
Self Esteem
(1,716 posts)Mine is the fact Harris has been in this race now about two half months and she's made zero stops in any of those three states. My source is sitting in every Monday with my state party on a conference call with the Harris campaign and other state parties going over the state of the race and where they're focusing most their attention. My source is that we've got just a bit over a month left in the campaign and they're still looking at coin flip results in most the states Biden flipped in 2020.
There is a reason Harris hasn't stepped foot in Florida or Ohio or Texas since becoming the presumptive and then official nominee and it's because they know all three states are significant long shots that they do not need to get to 270.
Where is Walz literally at the writing of this post? Pennsylvania.
That will be their focus: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. They see that as their best path to victory. Then after that, it's Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina.
Those will be the states you see Harris and Walz in between now and election day, with Nevada joining them.
There isn't enough time to start seriously campaigning in Ohio or Texas or Florida. Not when there are zero polls, public or internal, that have her tied in those states, let alone up.
intheflow
(28,967 posts)There is nothing worse than feeling like no one cares about your vote because of where you live. I know a lot of good liberal folks who don't vote here in Massachusetts because they know it's always going to go Blue. Like, I get it that resources are limited, and also - please don't take our votes for granted. I imagine this must be felt much more acutely by liberals in Red states. Only a few weeks left, there only needs to be a visit (or maybe two) to Blue islands in these states. When we don't go, we are already admitting loss before our assured voters in those states even get a chance to weigh in on election day, implicitly telling them we don't care about their hopeless support.
Kid Berwyn
(18,110 posts)The Senate is key for Democratic action in the coming Harris Administration, so yes. Give those Senate candidates the support they need -- and deserve.
PufPuf23
(9,256 posts)They deserve the attention of the national politicians.
Down slate candidates need the exposure and attention as well; they may not get the votes but deserve and need the inclusion.
Writing off states and regions is foolish and contributed to HRC losing the election.
This should not even be a question so obvious.
Oopsie Daisy
(4,522 posts)bucolic_frolic
(47,158 posts)Prairie Gates
(3,253 posts)We're on the knife edge in Pennsylvania. Enough nonsense.
kacekwl
(7,549 posts)does anyone here make your political decision based on if a candidate visits your state ? Sure it might be nice to see your choice in person but I could not care less. Those who come to see either candidate are the ones who are voting for them anyway.
Johonny
(22,116 posts)And if a stop helps, hell yes.
Torchlight
(4,251 posts)Allred's campaign. Cruz is already using the majority of his media time this month begging for money while Allred closes to a single percentage point difference in a state that hasnt elected a Democrat to a statewide office in 30 years.
Gary Peters of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said yesterday, All cycle long the DSCC has been preparing to take advantage of Sens. Cruz and Scotts damaged standings in their states and now our efforts in Texas and Florida are accelerating,
So yeah, I think the practical application of both cash and hand-pressing could really boost the state and downballot races.
gibraltar72
(7,629 posts)they are flush with money and resources. Run Republicans right into the ground.
DFW
(56,691 posts)Brown in Ohio looks positive, Allred and Murcasell shouldnt be wtitten off, eitherthey are still in the game. Only if we write them off do we lose for sure.
kansasobama
(1,526 posts)They have to focus on the blue wall in a close election. NC maybe, but no to the rest. Michelle Obama should go to FL.
onethatcares
(16,572 posts)instead of Tampa.
Maybe they could use Tropicana Field because they would need the seating.
Having your candidate show up and give their speech in person is like seeing a band you follow instead of listening to them on the radio.
TheKentuckian
(26,314 posts)If these are going to flip now or later some effort has to be made rather than hoping and waiting while desperately trying to hold the Blue Wall forever.
We need to be all of the above for a while here, the rewards are pretty high.