US elections 2024: ‘If you win Pennsylvania, you win the whole thing’ - Trump prepares for debate with Harris in swing state

The political spotlight will shine brightly on Pennsylvania Tuesday night, as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris take the stage in Philadelphia for a high-stakes debate in the most populous swing state. With polls showing a tight race, both candidates know that Pennsylvania could determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

No Democrat has won the White House without Pennsylvania since 1948, making the stakes even higher for Harris. Trump, meanwhile, is looking to repeat his 2016 success in the state, where he narrowly defeated Hillary Clinton before losing to Joe Biden in 2020.

“People say, ‘If you win Pennsylvania, you’re going to win the whole thing,’” Trump told supporters in Wilkes-Barre last month. The former president has made frequent visits to Pennsylvania, where he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a speech in Butler County in July. Harris, too, has been a frequent visitor, with plans to return on Friday to continue rallying her base.

The debate is set to take place at the National Constitution Center, located in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold. Harris aims to reassemble the coalition of voters that helped Biden win in 2020, focusing on mobilizing key groups such as college students, Black voters, and women motivated by the protection of abortion rights. Winning big in Philadelphia and its suburbs will be crucial for Harris as she tries to offset Trump’s dominance in the state’s rural areas.

Republicans are banking on voters’ concerns about the economy and inflation, hoping to chip away at Democrats' stronghold in Pennsylvania’s suburban areas. “A lot of people are saying, ‘We need the American economy to become strong again,’” said Lawrence Tabas, chair of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party.

While Harris is focused on economic issues like capping prescription drug prices and lowering childcare costs, the debate may prove pivotal in winning over undecided voters. Political experts suggest that many Pennsylvanians are still learning about Harris as a candidate, with her late entry into the race leaving room for voters to make up their minds before Election Day.

The path to the presidency runs through Pennsylvania, and with both candidates eyeing the state's electoral votes, the outcome of this debate could play a decisive role in shaping the 2024 race.