PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With the Republican and Democratic conventions in the rear-view mirror, the 2024 election is far from over. As they say, all politics is local and behind the scenes. Both parties are obsessed with Pennsylvania and what happens in down-ballot contests.
This past week was a good one for Gov. Josh Shapiro. The truth is, the Harris campaign will have to rely on him heavily to win Pennsylvania. Shapiro heads next to Bucks County to help Sen. Bob Casey in his fight against cash-rich GOP candidate David McCormick.
Democrats know that Shapiro can be a powerful campaigner, and if Harris-Walz can win the state and control the Senate, they would have real power.
The Republican powers, meanwhile, are urging Donald Trump's headquarters in the state to turn more positive. According to reliable sources, there are two camps: those who are all in on Trump, and those who are very concerned about preserving the down-ballot contests for state treasurer and auditor general — both in Republican hands — and the most important race, for attorney general, the most powerful law enforcement position in the state. Trump’s team is currently in control of the GOP operation in Pennsylvania.
One open question: With Robert Kennedy Jr. endorsing Trump, will that help him ... or will it help Harris?
The experts say it all starts on Labor Day. Not this year. Trump has been campaigning for four years; Harris, for four weeks. It's an epic political battle, now in a time crunch never seen before in American politics. Early voting is weeks away in some states.