During the visit, the high school band played school anthems and Harris spoke to the students, expressing her admiration and hope for the younger generation. “We’re so proud of you and we’re counting on you,” she told an enthusiastic crowd, some of whom were visibly excited by the vice president’s presence, according to the Associated Press. Harris encouraged the students, noting that she used to be in the band, and advised them to “just keep trying.”
The visit is part of a broader strategy by the Harris-Waltz campaign to appeal to Republican base voters and showcase a more personal side to the candidate. The campaign believes winning support in these areas is essential to securing a win in Georgia, a state that played a pivotal role in the 2020 election. The bus tour is scheduled to culminate with a rally in Savannah on Thursday.
Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler stressed the importance of reaching out to areas Democratic candidates don’t usually find themselves in. “We’re competing in every neighborhood,” Tyler said, adding that he hopes such informal visits will generate buzz that will resonate with voters across the country.
In addition to visiting the high school, Harris and Waltz stopped off at Savannah barbecue restaurant Sandfly to mingle with local patrons, some of whom expressed appreciation for Waltz’s background as a former high school teacher.
The bus tour reflects a continuation of the Democratic Party’s strategy to connect with voters on a personal level, a tactic that has been used effectively by past campaigns, including Biden’s. The campaign also launched new ads in battleground states, trying to link former President Donald Trump to its conservative “Project 2025” plan, which includes calls to replace public officials with Trump supporters and roll back some FDA approvals.
The Georgia visit makes up for an originally planned trip that was postponed because of Tropical Storm Debby. Harris is scheduled to continue campaigning with Biden through Labor Day as the election season enters its final stages.
The contrast in the two sides’ approaches was made clear when Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, struggled to engage with workers at a bakery in Valdosta, Georgia, during a recent visit. Mr. Vance later offered sympathy for employees who seemed overwhelmed by the media presence.
