WASHINGTON — As the upcoming presidential election approaches, every vote may prove crucial, prompting Kamala Harris to expand her outreach to unexpected demographics. A key focus for her team is Donald Trump’s supporter base, specifically targeting white voters without a college education.


Dan Kanninen, the director for battleground states within Harris’s campaign, acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It’s tough turf. But showing up is how you peel away the votes that you need to win.” Despite the difficulty in accurately gauging public sentiment given the variability in polls, Harris and her team believe they are witnessing some positive trends in voter attitudes.


Notably, the demographic of white voters lacking a college degree constituted roughly 40% of the electorate during the 2020 election, as highlighted by voting data. Recognizing the significance of this group, the Harris campaign has initiated advertising efforts on platforms like DraftKings, portraying Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as the “strongest line up.” Another ad on Yahoo Sports emphasizes key statistics, such as plans for tax cuts for the middle class and a $25,000 incentive for first-time homebuyers.


In a creative twist, a campaign advertisement on the gaming site IGN presents Harris as a character within a role-playing video game, showcasing her “charisma” and “intelligence” attributes while downplaying “deception” and “collateral damage.” An invitation to select her as president is featured prominently.


Additional ads have aired during football games, reinforcing Harris’s commitment to representing all Americans, alongside appearances from Walz, who is well-known in the sports community due to his previous role as a high school football coach. The campaign is also utilizing sports talk radio to further engage with potential voters.


Beyond advertising, Harris is leveraging labor unions to communicate with their members and local communities. Frequently addressing economic issues such as price gouging, she aims to connect with working-class voters. “People want somebody who is going to be on their side,” Kanninen stated, emphasizing the importance of this connection.


Contrarily, Republican pollster Whit Ayres expressed skepticism regarding Harris’s ability to attract white working-class voters. He suggested that her current strategy reflects a well-funded campaign rather than a genuine increase in appeal. “When you’re awash in money,” Ayres remarked, “you go after anything that’s remotely possible.”


In a tight electoral race, every voter gained can have substantial implications, according to Ayres. Meanwhile, Anna Kelly from the Republican National Committee dismissed Harris’s attempts as insufficient, claiming, “Kamala Harris is on defense because she is losing ground with long-time Democrat constituencies, like Black men.”


Despite the challenges, Kanninen remains resolute, acknowledging that difficult discussions are part of the process. “There have been tough conversations sometimes,” he noted. “But tough conversations can yield results, and in a very close race, those results can be decisive.”