Ex-Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina Says Early Voting Data is ‘Concerning’ for Harris

Jim Messina, the seasoned strategist who led former President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, has sounded an alarm over early voting data that could signal trouble for Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign.

During an interview on MSNBC’s *Inside with Jen Psaki* this Sunday, Messina expressed concern over a notable surge in early voting among Republican voters. This trend could challenge Democratic turnout strategies in critical battlegrounds.

“The early vote numbers are a little scary,” Messina shared, adding that the figures have already prompted worried calls from several political contacts. “My friends are panicking,” he admitted, suggesting that the latest data reflect a more robust Republican strategy than previous years.

Messina pointed out that in the 2020 election, Republicans were largely absent from early voting efforts after then-President Donald Trump discouraged his supporters from voting early.

This year, however, the GOP seems to have taken a different approach, resulting in an early voting boost that could give Republicans an edge.

“Republicans didn’t do what they did last time,” Messina explained. “Last time, Trump said don’t early vote, so they didn’t. This time around, Republicans have an advantage in early vote numbers. When the early votes come in, it’s going to look a little bit different than 2020, and that’s scary.”

Messina’s remarks reflect broader Democratic concerns as early voting data becomes a more significant indicator of voter turnout.

Early voting turnout data can offer insight into party momentum, enthusiasm, and whether specific strategies are resonating with voters in key demographics and locations.

Despite the worrying trend, Messina pointed out that there is some good news for Democrats. He noted a strong turnout among female voters and other core Democratic groups, a demographic that has historically leaned blue.

According to Messina, this surge in turnout among women could help Democrats counterbalance the Republican surge.

As both parties analyze the early vote numbers to fine-tune their final campaign strategies, Messina’s assessment sheds light on the shifting dynamics of early voting and the critical role it could play in the outcome of this election.