As polls near closing time in Pennsylvania, the Kamala Harris campaign is optimistic about high turnout in Philadelphia. Campaign advisers are hopeful that turnout in the city could surpass the levels seen during Joe Biden's successful 2020 campaign.
Bob Brady, chair of the Philadelphia Democratic Party, has indicated that their projections point to a potential turnout of 75% in the city. This would be a significant increase from the 66% turnout recorded in 2020 and could result in tens of thousands more votes compared to the previous election.
In order to secure Pennsylvania's crucial 19 electoral votes, Harris must focus on driving up turnout in Philadelphia and the surrounding collar counties while maintaining support across the rest of the state. Pennsylvania is a key battleground state, and the Harris campaign is closely monitoring voter turnout numbers. There are also reports of strong voter engagement in Pittsburgh.
A senior Democratic adviser in the state emphasized the importance of the ground game in Pennsylvania, describing it as the ultimate test for the campaign. By early evening, the Harris campaign announced that it had already surpassed its 2016 raw turnout figures, although it's worth noting that Hillary Clinton ultimately lost that election.
Despite the positive signs, Brady and other Democratic officials are cautious about projecting optimism prematurely. Brady emphasized that the true outcome will only be known once all votes are counted, stating, 'I don't want to be surprised.'
