Harris and Walz woo the undecided

Tamara Hargrove (50) feels noticed for the first time in a long time. “Kamala sees us,” says the black woman, pleased with the attention her hometown is receiving thanks to the presidential candidate's visit. Politicians don't usually show up here in southern Georgia. The last person to make his way to Savannah during the race for the White House was Bill Clinton in 1992.

There are many people living in the historic port city, like Tamara, who just want to be spoken to. “That's refreshing,” says Hargrove about Harris and her running mate Tim Walz's decision to start the hot phase of the election campaign here, of all places, among “ordinary Americans.” Thanks to her own background, Kamala understands the problems of ordinary people. “She is one of us.”

By bus through the province

“It's refreshing,” says Hargrove about the decision of Harris and her running mate Tim Walz to start the hot phase of the election campaign here of all places; among “everyday Americans” like herself. Kamala understands the problems of ordinary people because of her own middle-class background. “She is one of us.”

This was precisely the aim of the Democrats' unconventional tour to kick off the last 68 days before the elections on November 5. Harris and Walz landed in Savannah last Thursday on board the “Air Force 2”. The blue bus was already waiting at the airport, with the names of the candidates framed by two white letters in bold letters. Next to it was the campaign slogan “A new way forward”.

In the convoy of around thirty vehicles are the reporters who accompany Harris and Walz every step of the way every day. And Dana Bash, who conducted the highly anticipated first television interview of the top duo for CNN in a trendy Savannah café at the end of the tour.

Hope for the undecided

Harris and Walz spoke generally about how they want to help Americans economically “not just make ends meet, but get ahead.” With money for newborns, start-up assistance for buying houses and measures against excessive prices in supermarkets. Harris admitted that she had adjusted her stance on fracking and the border, but had remained true to her values. And she did not allow herself to be provoked into commenting on Donald Trump's sexist and racist broadsides. “Next question, please.”

Given the fuss that had been made beforehand, Americans saw two politicians in the interview who were comfortable in their own skin. The fact that it came at the end of the bus tour through the province fit seamlessly into the Democrats' strategy. In the seven swing states, they are pushing to appeal to people who otherwise feel unseen and stay at home on election day.

“We're ready to participate,” says Shay Paul (24) from rural Statesboro about the motivational boost that the candidates' visit has triggered. They know of many people their age who don't feel attracted to Joe Biden. “People are now really excited to vote.”

“Just showing up can change the outcome here by five to ten percent,” says Quentin Fulks, who organized the successful Senate campaign for the black preacher Raphael Warnock two years ago. He was determined to be present not only in the greater Atlanta area, where half of the southern state's population lives. Today he is a rising star in the Harris campaign team.

Trend points towards Harris

Especially in the southern states of Georgia and North Carolina, where a third of the population in rural areas is black. Harris and Trump are on average less than one percent apart in both states, with the trend moving in the direction of the Vice President.

She received a reception with drums and trumpets at Liberty High School in Hinesville. She also played in her school's marching band, the candidate tells the students. To be more precise: French horn, xylophone and kettle drums. A friendly reception that provides nice pictures for the local news.

As was the case later at Sandfly's Barbecue, a popular grill outside of Savannah, where she mingled with Walz. There was a lot of friendly small talk, shoulder pats and selfies. A contrast to the memorable bakery stop made by Trump's vice presidential candidate JDVance recently in Valdosta. His stiff attempts to strike up a personal conversation spread like wildfire on social media.

The power of images

This bus tour is about the power of images to help build a broad coalition of voters from rural areas, the suburbs and the black metropolis of Atlanta. Team Harris is using record donations of half a billion dollars in the past month alone to open campaign offices locally that will serve as a point of contact for volunteers.

“We are the underdogs,” Kamala Harris told her ten thousand supporters at the grand finale of the “A new way forward” bus tour in the packed “Enmarket Arena” in Savannah. They had braved pouring rain to be infected by the energy fueled by a DJ.

In contrast to the meandering Trump, who ranted in Michigan about trans boxers, Al Capone, the cannibal Hannibal Lecter, nuclear war and bacon, Harris keeps her speech brief at 20 minutes.

It is a mixture of warnings about the dire consequences of a second Trump term, promises to defend democracy and personal freedoms, and the promise of policies that will strengthen America's middle class. The candidate is trying to show a contrast in the direction and mobilize people.

James Williams (56) from rural Pooler believed that this strategy could work. “It is important that she has come to the small towns,” said the geriatric nurse, who has observed in his environment how Kamala appeals to people who otherwise expect nothing from politics. Now it is important that they are also elected. “That could be the deciding factor in the end.”