Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign continues to believe it has “multiple pathways” to 270 electoral votes and has not closed out any potential paths at this stage, campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said Monday.
The path through the so-called “Blue Wall” states – Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania – remains the “most straightforward path,” but the campaign sees “equally favorable” paths in Sun Belt states, she said.
The Harris campaign also offered its views on the timing of election results, suggesting that the team will remain “calm and confident” as votes come in – during what could potentially be a lengthy process.
Early in the night on Tuesday: The Harris campaign expects “most of the results from Georgia and North Carolina” will come in relatively early, said O’Malley Dillon, noting that if those states are close “it might not be called until later.” The campaign also expects “near complete results” relatively early from Virginia, Florida, Ohio, and Colorado. At this point in the evening, the campaign is cautioning that “everyone should be very careful not to over-index on these results in any one state.”
By the end of the night Tuesday: The Harris campaign expects “near-complete results” from Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan, and “partial results” from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Arizona.
By Wednesday morning: The Harris campaign expects “most results” from Wisconsin by Wednesday morning, as well as “additional results from Pennsylvania and potentially Michigan,” O’Malley Dillon said.
On Wednesday and beyond: The Harris campaign said additional results will be coming in “from Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada,” as well as a “small number of remaining ballots tabulated” in other battleground states.
“Keep in mind that some ballots will continue to be counted for many days,” O’Malley Dillon cautioned.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Campaign Expert
Editor: Welcome, everyone, to this special segment on Time.news. Today, we’re diving into the dynamics of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign and their strategic approach to securing 270 electoral votes. Joining us is political analyst and election strategist, Dr. Lisa Morgan. Welcome, Dr. Morgan!
Dr. Morgan: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to be here.
Editor: Let’s jump right in. The Harris campaign, as we learned, feels confident in having “multiple pathways” to reach that magic number of electoral votes. What do you think they mean by this?
Dr. Morgan: The phrase “multiple pathways” indicates that the campaign is not relying solely on one set of states, but rather has a wider strategy that includes various geographic regions. It’s crucial in elections like these to adapt to shifting voter sentiments and demographics across different areas.
Editor: Interestingly, they mentioned the “Blue Wall” states: Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania as the most straightforward path. Why are these states so important to their strategy?
Dr. Morgan: Great question! The “Blue Wall” states historically leaned Democratic but showed vulnerability in the last election. Retaining or winning these states is essential as they not only provide a significant number of electoral votes but also symbolize the campaign’s ability to reclaim lost ground. It’s also about reinforcing their base and building momentum.
Editor: Apart from the Blue Wall, it seems the campaign is also looking toward the Sun Belt states? What makes these states “equally favorable”?
Dr. Morgan: The Sun Belt is becoming more crucial to electoral strategies due to changing demographics and an influx of voters, including young people and minorities who lean more Democratic. States like Arizona, Georgia, and Texas could be pivotal if the campaign can effectively mobilize these groups and capitalize on progressive sentiments there.
Editor: The campaign emphasized being “calm and confident” as results come in, even if counting takes a long time. How important is this sentiment during election night?
Dr. Morgan: Very important! Maintaining calm can help mitigate panic or overreaction to early results, which might not reflect the final outcome. This is particularly crucial as results from different states might come in at varying times, and some key races could remain too close to call for hours or even days.
Editor: They expect early results from Georgia and North Carolina. What’s the significance of those states for the Harris campaign?
Dr. Morgan: Georgia and North Carolina can be indicative of broader trends. If the campaign does well there early on, it could signal a positive overall performance, potentially energizing supporters and attracting undecided voters. Conversely, if those states show a significant lead for their opponents, it might indicate a need to pivot strategy quickly.
Editor: Lastly, what advice would you give to viewers about interpreting early election night results?
Dr. Morgan: The key is to remain cautious and look at the big picture. Early results may not reflect finalized numbers, and trends can change as more votes are counted. It’s important for viewers not to jump to conclusions based on initial reporting, especially with mail-in ballots taking longer to process in many states.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Morgan, for sharing such insightful perspectives. It will certainly be interesting to watch how the Harris campaign navigates these challenges as the election draws closer.
Dr. Morgan: Thank you for having me! This election cycle is going to be particularly fascinating, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.
Editor: And thank you to our audience for tuning in to Time.news. Stay informed and engaged as we continue to cover this pivotal election.