PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It's only a matter of weeks until Americans elect their next president. It’s still hard to forecast but, nationwide, Pennsylvania is the most talked-about swing state.
The messaging in Pennsylvania is getting more limited. Donald Trump’s main message: migrants in the United States illegally are destroying the country. The language can be graphic, and he keeps getting more aggressive on the subject and blaming the Democrats.
The No. 1 issue was the economy, but with mostly good economic news, the Trump campaign pivoted to tying Kamala Harris to the border and the anti-migrant campaign.
The challenge for this issue is the danger it poses to all migrants, legal and illegal.
For Kamala Harris, the messaging has changed a bit: more emphasis on the economy, and strong surrogate support, mixed in with verbal accusations against Trump’s character. Her campaign response to these charges is very fast,
Both campaigns are obsessed with a county on a Great Lake with 267,000 residents. Erie is a lovely place with gutsy voters. For 34 years, no person has won Pennsylvania's electoral votes without winning Erie County. The voters there are informed and independent.
Legal sources tell me they are expecting an October Surprise from the Trump campaign, perhaps in early lawsuits on voting.
Bucks County can be unpredictable. reports a surge in mail voting. The county’s GOP chair, Pat Poprik, tells me she is thrilled about increases In Republican voter registration. While we have given up for now on a Red October, she is hoping for a red November.
Democrats will have none of that, of course. They forecast a record turnout in all suburban counties, and a record Democratic turnout in Philadelphia.
Montco Democrats are talking about a record turnout and all of a sudden beautiful Lancaster County is hoping for a place in history – Democrats believe the Harris-Walz ticket may get a boost from a more moderate voter base, but the Republican state committee says no way.
“Dead heat,” “razor-close,” “up for grabs,” and my favorite: “making the final turn and headed for a photo finish.”
Will that happen? American University professor Alan Lichtman has called every presidential election for decades—except one: 2020, which was decided by the Supreme Court.
This year the professor is calling it for Kamala Harris.
One thing we know there has already been a dramatic increase in mail voting statewide, with many more secure drop boxes.
On the subject of registration, some reminders:
Some registration reminders
• New Jersey’s deadline to register to vote in time for the general election is Tuesday, Oct 15.
• The Pennsylvania deadline is Oct. 21, next Monday.
• In Delaware you’re out of time. The deadline was Saturday.