Georgia in Focus: Harris-Walz 2024 Campaign To Launch Bus Tour as RFK Jr. Backs Trump

The Harris-Walz presidential campaign is set to kick off a bus tour through Georgia next week, as Democrats aim to retain the hard-fought gains made in the state during the 2020 election.

This trip marks the first joint campaign appearance of Vice President Kamala Harris with her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, since they were formally nominated at the Democratic convention.

Their tour will culminate in a rally in Savannah on Thursday.

This tour comes in the wake of a surprising political shift: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent presidential campaign and threw his support behind GOP nominee Donald Trump.

In a speech delivered in Phoenix, Kennedy cited three major issues that convinced him to leave the Democratic Party—free speech, the war in Ukraine, and what he described as the “war on our children.”

He explained that he no longer saw a realistic path to the White House and endorsed Trump, who he believes can address these pressing concerns.

Trump, in turn, praised Kennedy, predicting he would have a significant influence on the election.

Harris-Walz Campaign Strategy

The Harris-Walz campaign is gearing up for the final months of the general election, using momentum from the Democratic convention to propel their efforts in Georgia.

In addition to the bus tour, Harris and Walz are scheduled to tape their first joint interview and participate in multiple fundraisers, expected to take place in New York, California, Florida, and Georgia.

“Campaigning in this part of the Peach State is critical as it represents a diverse coalition of voters, including rural, suburban, and urban Georgians—with a large population of Black voters and working-class families,” the Harris-Walz campaign stated in a release.

The trip to Georgia will be Harris’ seventh visit to the state this year and her second since launching her presidential campaign last month.

Republicans Respond

Meanwhile, the Republican ticket is ramping up its campaign efforts in Georgia. Vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance of Ohio recently held an event in Valdosta, and former President Donald Trump hosted a rally in Atlanta earlier this month.

Republicans are also aiming to capitalize on polling that suggests the party could gain a larger share of Black and Latino voters in this election cycle.

The Harris-Walz southern Georgia bus tour is expected to mirror their recent tour of western Pennsylvania, which included stops at local campaign offices, a firehouse, and a high school football practice.

This visit is a part of a broader battleground state strategy, with Georgia playing a pivotal role in the campaign’s electoral map.

Targeting Key Regions In Georgia

The South Georgia region holds significant importance for the Harris-Walz campaign, with nearly 50 full-time staff working across seven offices in the area.

The campaign has hosted over 500 events in the region since May 31, according to Georgia campaign spokesperson Adelaide Bullock.

Southern Georgia includes Dougherty County, which has one of the largest Black populations in the state, and field offices have been established in cities like Albany and Valdosta.

Ranada Robinson, research director for the New Georgia Project Fund, emphasized that appealing to Black voters in both rural and urban areas will be crucial to the Harris-Walz campaign’s success, as it was to President Joe Biden’s narrow victory in 2020.

Harris and Walz aim to build on the Democratic Party’s 2020 success in Georgia, a state Biden won by just 11,779 votes.

With hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal, the Harris-Walz campaign has hired more than 170 staffers across 24 offices in Georgia.

Also Read: RFK Jr. Shakes Up 2024 Race: Withdraws from Arizona Ballot, May Endorse Trump Today