Nikolas Lanum
FOX NEWS
Mon, September 23, 2024
Democrats are privately worried about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to shore up votes among White, working-class voters – an important demographic to securing victory in the November election.
According to a new report from Politico, while members of the Democratic Party are publicly expressing confidence, behind closed doors, officials and allies fear that former President Donald Trump could shatter the Blue Wall he broke down eight years ago.
"Candidly, Trump has a solid, solid base of working-class people that have bought into his message," Jimmy Williams, president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, told Politico.
"It’s movable and it’s been moving. But it’s not like some tide that’s turned," he said.
The fresh concern comes as the Teamsters labor union chose to withhold an endorsement from Harris last week following internal polling that showed higher favorability for Trump among respondents.
Democrats told Politico that Trump may garner unexpectedly high support among union members – especially men. They also say Harris must work harder to win over the White, working-class voting bloc which comprises a large percentage of the Rust Belt electorate.
One pro-Harris union official, who Politico granted anonymity, said the polling was a "red flag" for Democrats and was reminiscent of 2016, when Hillary Clinton underperformed among union households.
"Hard not to have HRC flashbacks right now, to be honest, that stuff might be wrong beneath the surface," the official said. "I hope it’s not."
Swing-state Democrats also claimed that Harris is not criticizing Trump enough on past comments he has made regarding issues that matter to older voters, such as Social Security and Medicare.
"I’m worried about her with [seniors]… most of all, I just think they don’t know her," one anonymous Pennsylvania Democratic elected official told Politico. "She should be coming in on Medicare and Social Security like non-f---ing stop."
Another Democratic elected official in Pennsylvania expressed similar concerns.
"How much time do you hear the top of the ticket talking about that issue? Almost nothing. They just have to talk about it more," the official said.
Trump is leading Harris in Arizona by five points in a 50%-45% spread, and he holds a similar 49%-45% lead in Georgia, according to a poll on Monday by The New York Times. Harris is closer to the former president in North Carolina, however, where the race sits at 49%-47%.
The Times survey comes days after a Fox News national poll found Harris leading Trump by two points in a 50%-48% match-up.
Florida, Georgia Teamsters break with national leadership by endorsing Harris-Walz ticket
Mon, September 23, 2024
Democrats are privately worried about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to shore up votes among White, working-class voters – an important demographic to securing victory in the November election.
According to a new report from Politico, while members of the Democratic Party are publicly expressing confidence, behind closed doors, officials and allies fear that former President Donald Trump could shatter the Blue Wall he broke down eight years ago.
"Candidly, Trump has a solid, solid base of working-class people that have bought into his message," Jimmy Williams, president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, told Politico.
"It’s movable and it’s been moving. But it’s not like some tide that’s turned," he said.
The fresh concern comes as the Teamsters labor union chose to withhold an endorsement from Harris last week following internal polling that showed higher favorability for Trump among respondents.
Democrats told Politico that Trump may garner unexpectedly high support among union members – especially men. They also say Harris must work harder to win over the White, working-class voting bloc which comprises a large percentage of the Rust Belt electorate.
One pro-Harris union official, who Politico granted anonymity, said the polling was a "red flag" for Democrats and was reminiscent of 2016, when Hillary Clinton underperformed among union households.
"Hard not to have HRC flashbacks right now, to be honest, that stuff might be wrong beneath the surface," the official said. "I hope it’s not."
Swing-state Democrats also claimed that Harris is not criticizing Trump enough on past comments he has made regarding issues that matter to older voters, such as Social Security and Medicare.
"I’m worried about her with [seniors]… most of all, I just think they don’t know her," one anonymous Pennsylvania Democratic elected official told Politico. "She should be coming in on Medicare and Social Security like non-f---ing stop."
Another Democratic elected official in Pennsylvania expressed similar concerns.
"How much time do you hear the top of the ticket talking about that issue? Almost nothing. They just have to talk about it more," the official said.
Trump is leading Harris in Arizona by five points in a 50%-45% spread, and he holds a similar 49%-45% lead in Georgia, according to a poll on Monday by The New York Times. Harris is closer to the former president in North Carolina, however, where the race sits at 49%-47%.
The Times survey comes days after a Fox News national poll found Harris leading Trump by two points in a 50%-48% match-up.
Florida, Georgia Teamsters break with national leadership by endorsing Harris-Walz ticket
Antonio Fins, Palm Beach Post
Tue, September 24, 2024
Ten Teamsters local units that represent 45,000 members in Florida, Georgia and southeastern Alabama have broken with the union's national leadership by endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
Josh Zivalich, president of the Teamsters Joint Council 75, said the seven-member board felt strongly that it needed to support the ticket of Harris and running mate Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor.
"We decided we wanted to endorse the Harris-Walz campaign," Zivalich said. "We think the stakes are very high for working people, and certainly union people, and we thought it was important to make a stand."
The decision is a departure from the Sept. 18 announcement by the board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters not to endorse either Harris or former President Donald Trump. The Republican White House nominee's campaign hailed the Teamsters' non-selection calling it a "crushing blow" against Harris as "she became the first Democrat in almost three decades" not to enjoy the backing of the Teamsters.
But the decision was also a setback for Trump, who coveted the union's backing as well. Teamsters President Sean O'Brien was given a prime-time speaking slot at this July's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, and Trump teased a potential endorsement during rallies this summer.
What's more, since the non-endorsement by the national governing board, the Harris-Walz ticket has steadily received endorsements from local Teamsters councils, including in important battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nevada.
On Tuesday, the three Teamsters local councils in Georgia joined the group, as did the six in Florida and the one in southeastern Alabama that also oversees Florida's western Panhandle. Zivalich would not say what the final seven-member vote was in support of of Harris-Walz.
"But I can tell you there wasn't anybody that voted that we should endorse Mr. Trump," he said.
Why the Florida, Georgia Teamsters say they back Harris-Walz
Zivalich said union opposition to Trump in part stems from the "outright hostile" stance the National Labor Relations Board took against organized labor during the former president's lone term in the White House.
He said organized labor also is outspoken in opposition to the Project 2025 goal of dismantling the American regulatory state, which Zivalich said would undermine protections from the right to organize to safety supervision under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency.
Trump and his campaign have disavowed Project 2025, and say they do not support what Democrats and critics call its extremist program. But Trump's campaign rhetoric, particularly his call to slash federal regulations and his supporters' wish for dismantling the "deep state," echoes Project 2025's provisions.
"We think that those laws and agencies not only need to be protected: They need to be strengthened. That's clearly not Mr. Trump's agenda," Zivalich said of federal law and the regulatory state.
Election 2024: Trump fires vitriolic post at 'Comrade Kamala' as Dems in Florida 'slam' him on Obamacare
The Teamsters, he added, have often worked with pro-labor Republicans and have endorsed them.
"But Mr. Trump is not one of them," Zivalich said.
He said the three state councils will now inform the rank-and-file via social media, text communications and numerous other outlets. Activists and union stewards in the Teamsters locals will also make the case for Harris-Walz as they visit members to make sure they are registered to vote and explain that "the Teamsters did their due diligence on the record of the candidates and offer them what our endorsements are," he said.
"Certainly our members are going to vote the way that they feel and that is deeply, deeply respected," Zivalich said. "But we felt that we needed to definitely show them that their leadership believes that the Harris-Walz ticket is the right ticket for organized labor and for them to consider that."
Teamsters members in Florida, Georgia and southeast Alabama work predominantly in package and freight delivery, as well as airlines, public sectors, the brewery industry and food-service transportation, he said.
Pa Teamsters counters national leadership, endorses Kamala Harris.
Damon C. Williams,
Damon C. Williams,
USA TODAY NETWORK
Mon, September 23, 2024
Just days after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for president, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters bucked its national leadership and officially endorsed the Democratic nominee and current vice president.
Here's why Pennsylvania's Teamsters are backing Kamala Harris and what it could mean for Pennsylvania.
Why is the Pennsylvania Teamsters endorsing Kamala Harris?
The Leadership of the 95,000-member Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters cited Kamala Harris and vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' support for unions, fair wages and improved working conditions
Mon, September 23, 2024
Just days after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for president, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters bucked its national leadership and officially endorsed the Democratic nominee and current vice president.
Here's why Pennsylvania's Teamsters are backing Kamala Harris and what it could mean for Pennsylvania.
Why is the Pennsylvania Teamsters endorsing Kamala Harris?
The Leadership of the 95,000-member Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters cited Kamala Harris and vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' support for unions, fair wages and improved working conditions
.
Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for president at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's leadership conference on Sept. 18, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
"The PA Conference of Teamsters is committed to vetting candidates and choosing those that are best suited to protect our members' wages, their rights and their collective bargaining agreements," said PA Conference of Teamsters President William Hamilton in a press release announcing the endorsement. "In the 45 years the PA Conference of Teamsters has been in existence, it is extremely rare to have a pro-labor candidate for President and a pro-labor candidate for Vice President running together.
"Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are exactly that team."
Will the PA Teamsters' endorsement matter in battleground Pennsylvania?
In the announcement, PA Conference of Teamsters President William Hamilton indicated that his membership will work to tilt battleground Pennsylvania toward the Harris/Walz ticket.
"Their track record on labor speaks volumes," Hamilton said, "and that is why we are proud to not only endorse but support and work for the Harris Walz campaign in Pennsylvania.”
Why didn't the Teamsters endorse neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump?
Afters years of officially endorsing presidential candidates, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union's leadership decided to not endorse either presidential candidate Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.
Teamsters union leadership said they simply couldn't reach a consensus on either presidential candidate, and noted that neither have spoken directly to the needs of union membership.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Pa Teamsters endorses Kamala Harris despite national union stance
Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for president at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's leadership conference on Sept. 18, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
"The PA Conference of Teamsters is committed to vetting candidates and choosing those that are best suited to protect our members' wages, their rights and their collective bargaining agreements," said PA Conference of Teamsters President William Hamilton in a press release announcing the endorsement. "In the 45 years the PA Conference of Teamsters has been in existence, it is extremely rare to have a pro-labor candidate for President and a pro-labor candidate for Vice President running together.
"Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are exactly that team."
Will the PA Teamsters' endorsement matter in battleground Pennsylvania?
In the announcement, PA Conference of Teamsters President William Hamilton indicated that his membership will work to tilt battleground Pennsylvania toward the Harris/Walz ticket.
"Their track record on labor speaks volumes," Hamilton said, "and that is why we are proud to not only endorse but support and work for the Harris Walz campaign in Pennsylvania.”
Why didn't the Teamsters endorse neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump?
Afters years of officially endorsing presidential candidates, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union's leadership decided to not endorse either presidential candidate Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.
Teamsters union leadership said they simply couldn't reach a consensus on either presidential candidate, and noted that neither have spoken directly to the needs of union membership.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Pa Teamsters endorses Kamala Harris despite national union stance
\
Vice President Harris Rallies in Madison; Crowd Chants ‘We’re Not Going Back’
Levi Rickert
Mon, September 23, 2024
Vice President Harris campaigns in Madison, Wisc. (Photo/Marlon WhiteEagle)
Native Vote 2024. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris made her fourth trip to Wisconsin, a key battleground state in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, on Friday, Sep. 20.
The Madison rally was held at the Alliant Energy Center, and according to Harris campaign officials, “with over 10,500 attendees.”
The capacity crowd heard from Wisconsin Democratic chair Ben Wikler, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Congressman Mark Pocan, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Governor Tony Evers.
In between speakers, the DJ played music that kept the crowd excited, some danced to pass the time. Attendees were given multi-colored lighted wristbands that lit up the arena. The combination of music and lights gave the rally a party atmosphere.
Before Harris took the stage, she was endorsed by Teamsters Joint Council 39 and introduced by their president, Bill Carroll. Early in the week, the Teamsters made news electing not to endorse either candidate for U.S. president. However, local Teamster councils that collectively number over one million have endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket.
Vice President Harris thanked Madison’s mayor for taking her to visit her childhood home during a recent trip to Madison. Harris lived in Madison when she was 5 years old, and her parents worked at UW-Madison.
Harris spoke to her supporters about her debate performance against her opponent, former President Donald Trump. She said, “it was fun.”
Harris said she talked to Americans about her plan to lower the cost of groceries and drugs, supporting small businesses, and protecting reproductive freedoms, while Trump uses his “old, tired playbook.”
“He has no plan of how he would address the needs of the American people,” Harris said. “It’s time to turn the page. America is ready to chart a new way forward. We are tired of all the division and hate what they are pushing.”
Harris emphasized the support her campaign receives from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents as she makes her case to win the White House.
The vice president tours her “opportunity economy” plan that would help Americans own a home, build wealth, and start a business if she is elected to office.
Her goal is to build 3 million new homes by the end of her first term as president. She has plans to support new homebuyers with $25,000 in down payment assistance, take on corporate price gouging, and increase child tax credits.
She said Trump plans to cut Social Security, increase foreign tariffs, and end the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“Trump’s tariffs would cost American families $4,000 per year,” Harris said. “He has a concept of a plan,” to replace the ACA.
Harris reminded supporters of when health insurance companies could deny healthcare coverage to Americans with preexisting conditions, which ended with the passage of the ACA.
“We are not going back,” Harris said.
With early voting starting in a handful of states last week, Harris asked her supporters to go out to “energize, organize, and mobilize” Wisconsin voters.
“The election is already here,” she said. “Remind everyone: your vote is your voice. And your voice is your power. Never let anyone take your power from you.”
Since the Madison rally, Harris has challenged Trump to a CNN debate on October 23, which would be the second presidential debate between Harris and Trump. Trump has yet to agree to participate in the debate.
About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."
Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
Levi Rickert
Mon, September 23, 2024
Vice President Harris campaigns in Madison, Wisc. (Photo/Marlon WhiteEagle)
Native Vote 2024. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris made her fourth trip to Wisconsin, a key battleground state in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, on Friday, Sep. 20.
The Madison rally was held at the Alliant Energy Center, and according to Harris campaign officials, “with over 10,500 attendees.”
The capacity crowd heard from Wisconsin Democratic chair Ben Wikler, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Congressman Mark Pocan, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Governor Tony Evers.
In between speakers, the DJ played music that kept the crowd excited, some danced to pass the time. Attendees were given multi-colored lighted wristbands that lit up the arena. The combination of music and lights gave the rally a party atmosphere.
Before Harris took the stage, she was endorsed by Teamsters Joint Council 39 and introduced by their president, Bill Carroll. Early in the week, the Teamsters made news electing not to endorse either candidate for U.S. president. However, local Teamster councils that collectively number over one million have endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket.
Vice President Harris thanked Madison’s mayor for taking her to visit her childhood home during a recent trip to Madison. Harris lived in Madison when she was 5 years old, and her parents worked at UW-Madison.
Harris spoke to her supporters about her debate performance against her opponent, former President Donald Trump. She said, “it was fun.”
Harris said she talked to Americans about her plan to lower the cost of groceries and drugs, supporting small businesses, and protecting reproductive freedoms, while Trump uses his “old, tired playbook.”
“He has no plan of how he would address the needs of the American people,” Harris said. “It’s time to turn the page. America is ready to chart a new way forward. We are tired of all the division and hate what they are pushing.”
Harris emphasized the support her campaign receives from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents as she makes her case to win the White House.
The vice president tours her “opportunity economy” plan that would help Americans own a home, build wealth, and start a business if she is elected to office.
Her goal is to build 3 million new homes by the end of her first term as president. She has plans to support new homebuyers with $25,000 in down payment assistance, take on corporate price gouging, and increase child tax credits.
She said Trump plans to cut Social Security, increase foreign tariffs, and end the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“Trump’s tariffs would cost American families $4,000 per year,” Harris said. “He has a concept of a plan,” to replace the ACA.
Harris reminded supporters of when health insurance companies could deny healthcare coverage to Americans with preexisting conditions, which ended with the passage of the ACA.
“We are not going back,” Harris said.
With early voting starting in a handful of states last week, Harris asked her supporters to go out to “energize, organize, and mobilize” Wisconsin voters.
“The election is already here,” she said. “Remind everyone: your vote is your voice. And your voice is your power. Never let anyone take your power from you.”
Since the Madison rally, Harris has challenged Trump to a CNN debate on October 23, which would be the second presidential debate between Harris and Trump. Trump has yet to agree to participate in the debate.
About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."
Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
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