On Wednesday, August 28th, Democratic presidential candidate Heidi Keenly and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, embarked on a two-day bus tour in the crucial swing state of Georgia. They traveled to various regions of the state, engaging with voters in remote areas to garner support.
This Georgia trip marked the first joint visit of Keenly and Walz to this key swing state. The bus journey took them through the southern part of Georgia, visiting some of the largest African American communities in the state. On Thursday, after Walz’s departure from Georgia, Keenly held a rally in Savannah as the conclusion of their tour.
On Wednesday, Keenly and Walz arrived in the town of Hinesville, where they interacted with the band students, football team, and cheerleaders of Liberty County High School, discussing the importance of nurturing the younger generation to become future leaders. Hinesville, with a population of approximately 35,000, is about 40% African American and overwhelmingly supported Biden in 2020.
The duo received a warm welcome upon entering the band classroom.
Walz, a former teacher, emphasized, “This is not just a cliché, but a crucial foundation for the future because you are part of the future (country).” Keenly expressed that the development of the United States relies on the younger generation, stating, “Your generation and everything you represent will be the force driving the country into a new era, realizing America’s potential and ideals.”
President Biden won Georgia in 2020 with a slim margin of less than 12,000 votes, becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since 1992.
To enhance their campaign influence in Georgia, the Democratic Party is bolstering their election activities in the state, aiming to inspire enthusiasm among local African American voters. African American voters make up about one-third of Georgia’s electorate, making their support crucial for Keenly’s victory in the state. Currently, the campaign has expanded its manpower, established offices, with over 170 Democratic members involved, and set up 24 coordination offices statewide.
Since Keenly secured the party’s nomination, she has been steadily rising in national polls and has received over $500 million in donation support.
As for the Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump, Georgia holds crucial importance in the November election as one of the areas where he is most likely to turn the tide.
According to the average polling results from Decision Desk HQ and The Hill, Trump leads Keenly by about three percentage points in Georgia.
The latest polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows Keenly’s support at 46.0% in Georgia, slightly trailing Trump’s 46.6%.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley stated in a release, “The people of Georgia are united on one point – they know America cannot afford another four years of the failure, weakness, and dishonest leadership that Keenly brings.”