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Nikki Lu, Harris’s Pennsylvania campaign manager and a native of Pittsburgh, has found herself at the center of much of this criticism. Ryan Boyer, the first Black leader of Philadelphia’s powerful building trades council, expressed skepticism over Lu’s ability to understand the complexities of Philadelphia’s electorate. “I have concerns about Nikki Lu,” Boyer told Politico, adding, “I don’t think she understands Philadelphia.”
Another Democratic official was even more blunt, accusing Lu of being “AWOL” (absent without leave), according to Politico. This sentiment has been echoed by others within the party, as local Democratic leaders feel their voices are being sidelined. One Pennsylvania Democratic strategist accused Lu of fostering a “culture” that leaves local officials feeling neglected and ignored by the campaign.
Despite the internal discord, some state leaders have tried to sound an optimistic note. State Representative Danilo Burgos, who represents a Philadelphia district, acknowledged concerns within the Latino community but stated that the campaign is beginning to move in a better direction after meetings with Harris’s team. “Everybody’s very nervous,” Burgos told Politico, while admitting that tension is rising as Election Day approaches. “And I think that as we get closer, people get more tense. And they’re more vocal.”
The stakes in Pennsylvania are high, not only for Harris but for former President Donald Trump as well. The importance of the state in the 2024 election is underscored by SpaceX CEO and Trump supporter Elon Musk’s involvement. Musk is reportedly planning “a series of talks from tomorrow night through Monday” in Pennsylvania, according to Reuters, signaling the intense focus both sides are placing on the battleground state.
In addition to internal campaign issues, Harris is facing challenges in connecting with key voter demographics in Pennsylvania, particularly Catholic voters. In a column published by the Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn highlighted the problem Harris is encountering with this critical group. “Her San Francisco progressive persona isn’t a good fit for Joe Biden’s native state,” McGurn wrote, pointing out that exit polls from the 2020 election show that 30% of Pennsylvania’s voters are Catholic.
The recent controversy surrounding Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s participation in a staged communion, which was met with backlash from religious communities, has only heightened the tension between progressive Democrats and Catholic voters. McGurn noted that incidents like these reflect the broader disconnect between liberals and Catholics on issues of faith.
Harris’s past record on matters of religion, particularly her stance on issues like abortion and gender ideology, has not endeared her to many Catholic voters. “Throughout her career as a public official, Kamala Harris has long used government power to try to coerce people of faith to violate their consciences, especially regarding abortion and gender ideology,” said Kristen Waggoner, CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, according to McGurn.
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CatholicVote president Brian Burch added that Harris cannot rely on the same level of support that Joe Biden received from Catholic voters in 2020. “Many Catholics in Pennsylvania are Democrats by tradition who might have voted for Joe Biden but have grown increasingly skeptical about their party under Kamala Harris,” Burch explained.
As Election Day draws nearer, the tension within the Harris campaign in Pennsylvania and the broader disconnect with key voter groups could play a critical role in the outcome. Whether Harris can overcome these hurdles remains to be seen, but with Pennsylvania set to be a decisive battleground, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
