This week, Vice President Kamala Harris made her way to the Southwest, spending two nights energizing her supporters in Arizona as Election Day approaches.
On Thursday evening, Harris spoke to a crowd of thousands in the Gila River Indian Community near Chandler. Earlier that day, she participated in a town hall in Las Vegas aimed at undecided Latino voters.
The following day, Harris held a gathering at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. During this more intimate event, she reminisced about her collaborations with late Senator John McCain and expressed her commitment to forming a “bipartisan council of advisers” if elected. Mesa Mayor John Giles, who helped launch the “Republicans for Harris” chapter in Arizona, was also in attendance.
“We have more in common than you might think,” Harris stated as she concluded her speech on Friday.
“Our fight isn’t merely against something; rather, it’s for substantial change,” she added.
Photo by REBECCA NOBLE/AFP via Getty Images
Arizona, a state President Biden won by a narrow margin in 2020, is a key battleground for Harris and her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, as the election draws near.
Former President Obama, who recently endorsed Harris, is planning appearances in Arizona and Nevada next week, including stops in Tucson and Las Vegas on October 18 and 19—just as early voting begins in Nevada.
Current polling suggests a competitive race in Arizona. While Trump holds a slight edge, with a lead of around 1.4 percentage points according to FiveThirtyEight, the competition remains close, with Harris leading in some recent polls.
A recent poll from The Wall Street Journal shows Harris ahead of Trump 47% to 45%, but this margin is within the poll’s error range. In contrast, an Emerson College/The Hill poll indicates Trump at 49% against Harris’s 47%—again, showing just how tight this race is.
Since launching her campaign, Harris has improved the Democrats’ standings in Arizona. Earlier, Trump led Biden by 8 points in a June poll; now, Harris is only behind by 2 points, demonstrating a significant shift in voter sentiment.
Trump is set to hold a rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona, this Sunday.