SCRANTON, Pennsylvania, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will hold a rally in President Joe Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, aiming to attract blue-collar voters who have historically supported Biden in this critical state.
This marks Trump's second visit to Pennsylvania in just five days as he targets working-class regions, a key demographic in the competitive race against Democratic challenger Kamala Harris.
While Biden is primarily linked to Delaware, Scranton is significant to his background; he was born there and raised in a modest home. In the 2020 election, Biden won Lackawanna County, largely due to Scranton, by nine points, outperforming Hillary Clinton's narrow victory in 2016.
The race in Pennsylvania is tight, with its 19 electoral votes likely to be pivotal in the upcoming election on November 5. Both candidates are intensifying efforts to secure the state, with Trump recently drawing large crowds. Additionally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is expected to campaign alongside Trump in Pennsylvania, while former President Barack Obama is scheduled to support Harris.
Trump's campaign has prominently featured economic issues, promising tariffs on imports to boost U.S. manufacturing and employment. A recent Reuters-Ipsos poll indicated that 44% of respondents believe Trump has a better approach to the economy, particularly regarding the cost of living, compared to 38% for Harris.
Democrats argue that Trump's push to maintain the corporate tax cuts from 2017 undermines his commitment to blue-collar workers.
Source: Reuters, October 9, 2024.