Trying to Find Trump's Ground Game in Pennsylvania

[BootinUp]

Four and eight years ago, there was a major Republican get-out-the-vote effort. This time is different.

by Ryan Cooper October 24, 2024

WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA – My hometown in Northeast Pennsylvania is about as close to the epicenter of the 2024 presidential election as you can get. This is one of the swingiest regions in the most important swing state. As a result, every day my mailbox is stuffed with political mailers, my phone is ringing off the hook, and every day I get probably 20 or 30 text messages from campaigns, pollsters, and groups begging me to return my mail-in ballot NOW. (I will get around to it very soon, I promise.)

The ground game is a different story. While I have gotten entire forests’ worth of conservative mailers, especially from local GOP Assembly candidate Dino Disler, I have only been door-knocked by liberals—four times and counting, at the time of writing—twice from the Harris campaign, and twice from the Progressive Turnout Project.

The lack of Republicans canvassing me could be because I’m in their databases as a reliable Democrat. But if so, why am I getting so many conservative mailers? Furthermore, as I’ve walked and driven around town, it’s clear that Wilkes-Barre is simply crawling with liberal canvassers, who can be identified by their Harris-Walz merch, particularly the amusing camouflage hats. Even Christine Baranski, the Emmy Award-winning actress from The Good Wife and The Gilded Age, is knocking on doors in Wilkes-Barre, apparently to get out the Polish American vote (which is plentiful!).

But I have not seen a single Trump canvasser anywhere. The only conservative activist I’ve seen was what appeared to be a middle-school age kid in a Trump costume sitting in the road median near a beer store waving some flags. (Alas, I neglected to get an interview, as I had other pressing business, and have not been able to find him again.)

Continued https://prospect.org/politics/2024-10-24-trump-ground-game-pennsylvania/

[Think. Again.]

1. They seem to be relying heavily on their post-election plans.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Trump campaign is relying on subliminal signage and networking

Dems must turnout in force in force inforce if they hope to beat back this strategy. 'Trump No Crime, Kamala Crime' is what I'm seeing, and more signs in this red red area than 2020. BUT, no Confederate flags, no caravans yet. So there is that.

[arlyellowdog]

3. My admiration for Christine Baranski just went through the roof

Loved her in The Good Wife and all things Broadway.

[PA Democrat]

4. She's also excellent in the HBO series The Gilded Age

which ironically is the time in America's past that Trump yearns for- the era of corrupt robber barons and a huge income gap.