Whoever wins this Pennsylvania county will likely win the whole election according to The Independent. Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Jump to content. Sign up to our newsletters. Log in/ Register Independent. In a report by Eric Garcia on Monday, 14th October 2024, it was highlighted that whoever wins Erie County, Pennsylvania, is likely to win the entire election. This explains why Vice President Kamala Harris is spending significant time campaigning there this week.
Amidst the campaign activities, former President Donald Trump held an event with Latino business leaders on Saturday, aiming to sway Latino voters from Vice President Harris. In contrast, Vice President Harris focused her efforts on winning over voters in Greenville, North Carolina. The pivotal role of Pennsylvania in the election has been evident for months, whether Joe Biden was the nominee or now with Kamala Harris leading the ticket, making Harris’s campaign in Erie County crucial for her potential victory.
Recent polls by The New York Times, Siena College, and The Philadelphia Enquirer revealed that Harris holds a four-point lead in Pennsylvania. Although past polling inaccuracies must be considered, this positive result for the Harris campaign presents a significant obstacle for her opponent’s path to victory. Erie County has historically been a Democratic stronghold, with notable wins for Al Gore in 2000 and Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
However, a shift occurred in 2016 when Trump won the county by two points, reflecting the changing sentiments among the white working-class population. In 2020, the county swung back to the Democrats, with Biden winning by a narrow margin, ultimately aiding in clinching Pennsylvania. This shift offers hope for Democrats in the upcoming elections, as evidenced by Senator John Fetterman’s triumph over Republican opponents in 2022.
Harris has strategically campaigned in similar Obama-Trump areas like Luzerne County and included Erie in a substantial advertising campaign back in August. Governor Tim Walz, her running mate, has also actively engaged with voters in Erie. Despite Trump’s continued efforts in Erie, Harris’s campaign remains optimistic about Pennsylvania. The intense focus on Erie County signifies Harris’s commitment to leaving no stone unturned in the lead-up to the election.