Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Philadelphia today to speak at the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) Presidential Town Hall. Harris, the first Asian American vice president, is trying to win over the key AAPI voting bloc, which has seen its support for President Joe Biden decline since 2020, according to the latest biennial survey.
This 2024 Asian American Voter Survey found that 46% of Asian-American voters say they are likely to vote for Biden, up from 54% in 2020. And 31% of those surveyed said they were likely to vote for former President Donald Trump this year, up from 30% in 2020.
However, the survey also found that 62% of those surveyed had a negative view of Trump, with 43% having a very negative view of him; 44% had a negative view of Biden, including 23% having a very negative view of him.
The most essential issues for Asian American voters are jobs and the economy (86%), inflation (85%) and health care (85%), the survey found.
Harris has been at the forefront of the Biden campaign’s efforts to appeal to AAPI voters. On Tuesday, she took off AANHPI Voters for Biden-Harris campaign initiative in a social media post and later organized formal inaugural event in Nevada. Harris joined President Joe Biden on the campaign trail in Philadelphia in May to support launch the campaign Black Biden-Harris Voters in Philadelphia.
Saturday marks Harris’ first visit to Pennsylvania since President Joe Biden’s penniless debate performance in June, which led to speculation she could lead the group in November. Biden has remained adamant that he is not giving up on his reelection bid, despite more than a dozen elected Democrats in Congress AND 24 Former Democratic Party Elected Congressmen calling on Biden not to seek a second term. And Harris has continued to support Biden in public speaking.
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Pennsylvania Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman and Gov. Josh Shapiro, have defended Biden amid calls for him to step down. But U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-7th District) has he expressed concern on Biden’s “choice.” US Rep. Summer Lee (D-12th District) said: Biden needs to show “that he’s up to the task” of staying in the race and suggested Harris should be nominated if Biden decides not to seek a second term.
Biden’s final speech in Pennsylvania was last Sunday. He began the day by attending a service at a customary black church in Northwest Philadelphia, then spoke to supporters at campaign offices in Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
Saturday is set to be another eventful day for the 2024 campaign in Pennsylvania. While Harris is in Philadelphia, former President Donald Trump will hold a rally in western Pennsylvania, and the first lady Jill Biden to Attend Italian Sons and Daughters of America Dinner in Pittsburgh.
Cook Political Report calls the presidential race in Pennsylvania uncertain, although latest polls showed Trump with a narrow lead over Biden. The state’s 19 electoral votes are the most of any battleground state.
Biden defeated Trump in Pennsylvania in 2020 by just over 80,000 votes.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
