A.G. Gancarski
Democrats may feel Florida is in play after all, given Kamala Harris’ announcement that her campaign will be in “Donald Trump’s backyard” Tuesday.
Harris will send surrogates to begin a “reproductive freedom” bus tour in Palm Beach County Tuesday.
Per the campaign: “Senator Amy Klobuchar, Harris-Walz campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Republican TV personality Ana Navarro, and reproductive rights storyteller Anya Cook will hold Trump directly accountable for the devastating impacts of overturning Roe v. Wade, including threatening access to IVF.”
While neither Harris herself nor running mate Tim Walz will be on this bus tour as they were during a Georgia swing this week, the campaign depicts it as important outreach.
“This election is about freedom — and the American people want and deserve the freedom to make their own health care decisions. Our campaign is hitting the road to meet voters in their communities, underscore the stakes of this election for reproductive freedom, and present them with the Harris-Walz ticket’s vision to move our country forward, which stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s plans to drag us back. As we crisscross the country, we’ll be driving that contrast home to red and blue voters and independents,” Chavez Rodriguez said.
The tour will also be in Jacksonville on Wednesday, and presumably other stops will follow along the way.
The abortion issue was spotlighted Thursday, when Trump served up some word salad regarding Florida’s own push against that “threat to our fundamental freedoms,” saying he would be “voting that we need more than six weeks” regarding Amendment 4, which would roll back restrictions imposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature.
But his campaign then said that he didn’t say “how he will vote on the ballot initiative in Florida,” even though there is no option beyond voting up or down on the amendment.
The Harris campaign also attacked Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, responding to reports of a $50,000-a-person fundraiser the Trilby egg farmer hosted.
“Donald Trump may be trying to hide his extreme Project 2025 agenda to outlaw abortion in Florida and across the country, but JD Vance is making the Trump-Vance ticket’s anti-choice extremism clear, cozying up to an architect of Florida’s cruel abortion ban who — just like Vance himself — has attacked exceptions for rape and incest,” a spokesperson said.
“Trump and Vance’s Project 2025 agenda would ban abortion nationwide — with or without Congress — while Trump won’t answer questions about the extreme Florida ban he made possible. Trump and Vance’s dangerous anti-choice plans may be popular with their out-of-touch donors, but they’ll be a clear loser with voters at the ballot box this November.”
According to the latest poll of the race from the Florida Chamber, Harris is down 7 points to Trump, 52% to 45%. Other polling has shown the race as close as 2 points, however.
The abortion amendment likely is more popular than either Trump or Harris, meanwhile. A poll last month from the University of North Florida showed it with 64% support, though a Florida Atlantic University survey showed it at 56%. The threshold is 60% for passage.
19 comments
PeterH
August 30, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Hi Kamala….welcome! I know you like to talk about ‘freedom of choice’ ……. but remember….. here in Florida we’ve long suffered with Republican administrations for decades and we’ve decided instead to refer to freedom as FREEDUMB!
Project 25 beware
August 30, 2024 at 5:24 pm
People need to read project 25 where it says the states should be the ones that determine MEDICAL PRACTICES. That’s not freedom DeathSantis. That’s what they are doing with abortion. Next they decide how to treat lung cancer patients ? Adficts? They already are deciding transgender care. This is the state controlled government by the GOP
MH/Duuuval
August 31, 2024 at 10:42 am
Are these the death panels the right wing warned against lo those many years ago — coming to fruition if DJT wins?
T'Challa
August 30, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz should actively participate in the Florida bus tour to bolster both the Democratic ticket and the crucial abortion rights ballot initiative. With Florida’s strict requirement of 60% support for the initiative to pass, every vote counts, and a strong pro-choice turnout is essential. As a high-profile pro-choice advocate, Harris could electrify the base and draw significant attention to the ballot initiative, framing it as a pivotal issue for reproductive rights nationwide.
Moreover, Florida resident Donald Trump’s opposition to abortion rights provides Harris with a powerful contrast to motivate voters. Harris appearing in person could galvanize pro-choice voters, especially in swing areas like Jacksonville and Palm Beach, and counter Trump’s influence on the state’s electorate. Tim Walz, known for his ability to connect with moderates and independents, could also appeal to undecided voters and energize Democrats who might otherwise stay home.
Additionally, the participation of Harris and Walz could help down-ballot Democrats, particularly Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is within striking distance of unseating Republican Senator Rick Scott. A coordinated effort would boost voter enthusiasm and turnout for both the presidential race and the Senate race, potentially flipping a crucial seat. By joining the bus tour, Harris and Walz could create a wave of momentum that lifts the entire Democratic ticket and secures vital victories in Florida.
MH/Duuuval
August 31, 2024 at 10:44 am
Pls. ask the Neo-Sherman bus brigade to swing by Plains and honk for Jimmy Carter who helped pave the way back home for all Southerners.
Suzanne
August 31, 2024 at 10:28 pm
I’d love for them to have a stop here in The Villages! I think we can get more votes here if she they do!
Shashvat Kumar Vahia
August 30, 2024 at 9:18 pm
Hope to see her in Miami dade county
Hallie Krall
August 30, 2024 at 10:29 pm
Where in Palm Beach is the bus stop? Can’t find it anywhere! I want to go if not too far from Boca. Thank you
William C Axtell
August 31, 2024 at 4:02 am
When and where is the Tour starting from? I’m a Strong Democrat who’d really like to go and live in W.P
B. Thank You
Day 38
August 31, 2024 at 7:29 am
So have any of you or any of the other zombies that frequent this board seen the comparison of the interviews of Ka Mana and Vance by Dana Bash? Night and day treatment by that obviously Demo operative. If you are not convinced now that CNN is a fake news organization and is simply a propaganda arm of the Democratic Party then there is no hope for you. Bash is a hack.
MH/Duuuval
August 31, 2024 at 10:45 am
Kill the messenger much?
rick whitaker
August 31, 2024 at 12:49 pm
PEACHY MARK, looks like you got fooled again. all of what you said was garbage talk designed to be repeated by marks like you.
Pat O'Brien
August 31, 2024 at 9:40 am
At what time and where in Palm Beach County will the tour begin? I am down here from New York and will be in Palm Beach County on Tuesday and I’d like to be in the crowd when the speakers speak.
Day 38
August 31, 2024 at 10:19 am
Hopefully you are a heckler.🤣
Dr. Brenda Nayak
August 31, 2024 at 12:02 pm
I will love to meet and see her in Orlando but willing to drive to Palm Beach and Jacksonville. However, there are no times listed, Looking forward to supporting and saving our democracy
Joe Amen
August 31, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Stupid remark. Your children and grandchildren will pay the price for a Trump win. Once democracy is lost you will not get it back. Things may not be great for those with no skills making 30k but electing trump and loosing democracy won’t correct those wrongs. Generations before them made mistakes don’t take the rights away from the young to make better choices. Vote Harris and Dump Rick Scott and clear the path to dump our sorry Governor. Removing books to hide the truth about our history is just plain wrong
M Smith
September 1, 2024 at 2:24 pm
To: A. G. Gancarski,
Regarding your article about K. Harris Campaign to a start bus tour in Palm Beach County, since I saw an AP item on the subject yesterday that detailed that their tour would commence in the town of Palm Beach. On the internet I found your news article which gave clarification that neither K. Harris nor T. Walz will be participating.
Although not a Democrat, it is personally disappointing as I was looking forward to hear them in person and attempting to find their bus stop venue, plus transport between commuter rail service (at Amtrak- Tri-Rail Station at West Palm Beach) and the island of Palm Beach.
For PB town residents, your news may be of some comfort since it is likely to lessen one political group while another often congests roadways near Mar-a-Largo, MAGA noisemakers notwithstanding.
Thank you for your journalist efforts.
M Smith
Maria M Lugo
September 1, 2024 at 5:20 pm
Kamala should come to Florida to beat Trump
Here!!! It is doable if she comes here once or twice!
MH/Duuuval
September 1, 2024 at 8:49 pm
Do Florida women really need to be reminded by Kamala, or anyone else, that their rights to reproductive freedom are on the line in Nov.?
Do supporters of human rights need to be similarly reminded?
Comments are closed.