Democrats are privately concerned about Vice President Kamala Harris' ability to win votes among white working-class voters, an important demographic for securing victory in the November election.
According to a new report from Politico, while members of the Democratic Party publicly express their confidence, behind closed doors, officials and allies fear that former President Donald Trump could break through the Blue Wall he tore down eight years ago.
“Quite frankly, Trump has a solid working-class base that has bought into his message,” Jimmy Williams, president of the Painters and Allied Trades International Union, told Politico.
“It's mobile and it's been moving. But it's not like the tide has turned,” he said.
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Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The new concern comes after the Teamsters union decided to withhold its endorsement of Harris last week following an internal poll that showed increased favorability toward Trump among respondents.
Democrats told Politico that Trump could get unexpectedly high support among union members, especially men. They also say Harris must work harder to win over the white, working-class voting bloc that comprises a large percentage of the Rust Belt electorate.
A pro-Harris union official, granted anonymity by Politico, said the poll was a “red flag” for Democrats and reminiscent of 2016, when Hillary Clinton underperformed among union households.
“It's hard not to have flashbacks to HRC at the moment, to be honest, it's possible that those things are bad beneath the surface,” the official said. “I hope not.”
Democrats in key swing states also said Harris is not critical enough of Trump for past comments he made on issues that matter to older voters, such as Social Security and Medicare.
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Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Leadership Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
“I'm worried about her with [seniors]”…most of all, I think they just don't know her,” an anonymous Democratic elected official from Pennsylvania told Politico. “She should be getting Medicare and Social Security non-stop.”
Another Democratic elected official in Pennsylvania expressed similar concerns.
“How much time do you hear senior officials talk about this issue? Almost none. They just need to talk about it more,” the official said.
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Trump leads Harris by five points in Arizona, 50%-45%, and has a similar 49%-45% lead in Georgia, according to a New York Times poll on Monday. However, Harris is closer to the former president in North Carolina, where the vote difference is 49%-47%.
The Times poll comes days after a Fox News national poll found Harris leading Trump by two points in a 50%-48% race.
