Former President Donald Trump is set to campaign in Georgia, a state he lost four years ago, in an effort to secure support in a battleground that both Democrats and Republicans view as up for grabs once again. Trump's upcoming event, scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, will feature his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. This follows a recent rally by Vice President Kamala Harris at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Georgia has become a focal point for both parties, with Democrats initially planning to shift focus to Midwestern states before President Joe Biden endorsed Harris, signaling a renewed emphasis on the state. Biden narrowly defeated Trump in Georgia by 11,779 votes in 2020, leading to controversy over Trump's attempts to influence the election results.
Trump's campaign has criticized Harris for alleged economic impacts on Georgians, including inflation and rising gas prices. The campaign also highlighted the tragic case of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was murdered while jogging in a park. Trump has targeted Harris on her role as the administration's 'border czar' and made false claims about her racial identity.
During her Atlanta rally, Harris referred to Trump and Vance as 'plain weird' and mocked Trump's indecision about their upcoming debate. Trump has vacillated on the debate, questioning its value and criticizing the hosting network, ABC News. Both candidates' attention on Georgia underscores the state's significance in the upcoming election, particularly in reaching diverse suburban and exurban populations.
Following Biden's exit from the race, Harris's campaign emphasized the importance of traditional Democratic strongholds like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, while also targeting persuadable voters in Georgia and other states. Harris plans to visit key battleground states in the coming weeks, including another stop in Georgia on Friday.
