In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating influence on the southeastern United States, a outstanding Democratic strategist issued a warning to Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizing the political significance of catastrophe response within the lead-up to the upcoming election.
Speaking on CNN’s News Central, Megan Hays burdened the significance of visible imagery and on-the-ground presence throughout pure disasters.
“People remember the visual here. People are going to remember he is on the ground,” Hays stated, referring to former President Donald Trump’s go to to storm-ravaged Valdosta, Georgia on Monday. “And in an election, that’s going to be won on the margins….People are going to remember.”
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida late final Thursday earlier than transferring into Georgia and affecting a number of different Southeast states, has left a path of destruction and greater than 100 deaths in its wake.
Trump’s swift response to the catastrophe, together with his go to to Valdosta, has put stress on the Biden administration to display its dedication to affected communities. During his go to, Trump posted a video clip on his Truth Social platform, saying: “We came down with truckloads of different items, from oil to water. We’re here today to stand with complete solidarity with the people of Georgia and all those suffering in the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Helene.”
The former president’s marketing campaign introduced plans for Trump to talk outdoors a destroyed furnishings retailer, obtain a briefing on the hurricane’s influence, and help in distributing reduction provides.
Meanwhile, Harris has confronted criticism for her preliminary absence from the affected areas. She was campaigning in Las Vegas over the weekend however lower her journey quick to return to Washington, D.C., the place she participated in briefings on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters.
Trump reposted a screenshot on Truth Social of Harris on Air Force One after being briefed on Helene’s destruction. He criticized the photograph as “FAKE and STAGED,” claiming Harris “has no clue what she is doing.” Trump went on to accuse the Biden administration of abandoning Americans in varied crises, together with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Newsweek contacted the Trump and Harris campaigns by way of e mail on Monday for remark.
The political implications of catastrophe response are important, significantly given the proximity of the election, which is 36 days away. Several of the states affected by Hurricane Helene are thought of battleground states, including additional weight to the candidates’ actions within the aftermath of the catastrophe.
Recent polling information suggests a tightly contested race in Georgia between Trump and Harris. An AtlasIntel ballot launched Monday confirmed Trump with a slight edge within the state, 49.6 p.c to 49 p.c. The lead extends to a number of different battlegrounds, together with Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with Harris main in two others.
However, the Georgia race has been notably fluid. An evaluation by 538 confirmed that Trump and Harris have held slender leads at varied factors since August 1, with many surveys putting them inside 1 share level of one another.
Harris has proven power amongst particular demographic teams in Georgia, together with a considerable lead amongst Black voters and a bonus with Latino voters. Her marketing campaign presence within the state has been notable, with three visits since changing into the nominee: her inaugural marketing campaign occasion on July 30, a bus tour in Savannah on August 28 and a rally on September 20.
Trump’s marketing campaign has additionally maintained a visual presence in Georgia. The former president held a rally in Savannah lower than every week in the past, whereas his working mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, made appearances within the state on September 16 and in Valdosta on August 22.
The Biden administration has stated that President Joe Biden and Harris plan to go to the affected area as quickly as it’s attainable with out disrupting ongoing emergency response operations.
An official stated that Harris has been actively engaged within the catastrophe response, talking with governors of affected states and taking part in briefings on the federal storm response.
