Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) has voiced concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris‘ declining polling numbers in Michigan, an essential battleground state for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Axios obtained audio from a virtual campaign event with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), which reveals that Slotkin described Harris’ approval ratings in Michigan as ” underwater.”
“I’m not feeling my best right now about where we are on Kamala Harris in a place like Michigan,” Slotkin said during Wednesday’s event.
She further revealed that internal polling shows Harris struggling to gain traction among Michigan voters, according to Axios.
Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump have prioritised Michigan as a critical swing state in their 2024 strategies.
Winning Michigan would significantly boost Trump’s campaign’s chances of securing 270 electoral votes.
Trump’s campaign is considering multiple paths to victory, with Michigan playing a crucial role, especially if he manages to dominate in the Sun Belt.
On the other hand, Harris must hold onto the states Biden won in 2020, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, to secure an easier path to re-election.
Trump narrowly lost Michigan to Biden in 2020 by a margin of 2.78% after winning the state in 2016. Polls now show a competitive race, with the RealClearPolitics average showing Harris with a slight lead of 48.9% compared to Trump’s 47.5%.
However, the latest New York Times/Siena poll has Harris ahead by just one point, 48% to Trump’s 47%. Contrarily, a recent Atlas Intel poll places Trump in the lead by four points, 51% to 47%.
As the 2024 election nears, the Trump campaign has deployed Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), his vice presidential pick, to campaign aggressively in crucial Rust Belt states like Michigan.
Harris and Trump have centred their campaigns on revitalising American manufacturing, targeting union voters, which played a pivotal role in Biden’s 2020 win.
However, Michigan has posed challenges for the Biden-Harris campaign, particularly in light of protests from anti-Israel demonstrators.
Some voters have threatened to vote “uncommitted” unless there is a policy shift in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. While Harris faced protests in August, she has not encountered the same level of opposition as President Biden.
Slotkin’s remarks may be part of an effort to galvanise fundraising and support, but they reflect broader concerns among Democrats regarding Harris’ polling performance in Michigan.
A spokesperson for Slotkin has yet to comment on the statements.
The Harris campaign has acknowledged the tight race in Michigan, urging voters to turn out in large numbers. They describe the race as “tied.”
The importance of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin is undeniable, with all three states playing a critical role in determining the outcome of the 2024 election.
In summary, Michigan remains a pivotal state for both the Harris and Trump campaigns as they fight to win over voters and secure the 270 electoral votes required for victory.
Harris’ team focuses on solid voter engagement to maintain their slim lead, while Trump’s campaign is ramping up efforts to regain the state he lost in 2020.
