Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are starting a bus tour in Georgia that will traverse rural areas in the southern part of the state before concluding in a rally in Savannah. The Democratic ticket plans to engage with supporters, campaign staff, small business owners, and voters, aiming to secure victory over Republican Donald Trump in November. The strategy involves expanding support beyond Atlanta and its suburbs, which were crucial for Joe Biden in 2020, by making inroads in GOP strongholds.

The tour in Georgia is a rescheduled visit following disruptions by Tropical Storm Debby earlier in the month when the duo had planned a seven-state swing tour. Besides the bus tour and the Thursday rally, Harris and Walz will participate in their first joint interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash, scheduled to air on Thursday night. The Democratic campaign is looking to replicate the successful tactic employed by Senator Raphael Warnock in 2022, who won in Georgia by venturing into traditionally Republican areas.

Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia appears to have moved past recent criticisms from Trump, who had blamed Kemp for his narrow loss in the state in 2020. Despite Trump’s initial attacks, he later expressed gratitude to Kemp on social media. Kemp emphasized the importance of focusing on policy issues, contrasting Kamala Harris’ record instead of dwelling on past disagreements.

Concurrently, the Harris campaign launched a new ad across battleground states linking Trump to the conservative “Project 2025.” The ad highlights Trump’s alleged desire for control over voters and references the detailed handbook for governing under the next Republican administration, which includes significant policy shifts. Trump, however, has distanced himself from the project, indicating that he had no involvement in its creation. The campaign aims to spend $370 million in digital and television ad reservations leading up to Election Day.