The competitive race between former President Trump and Vice President Harris is thrusting Georgia – a state that has shifted from its traditional red to a more blue hue – back into the spotlight during this election cycle, with polls indicating the candidates are “neck and neck” in the Peach State.
Experts suggest that Trump’s rhetoric could play a pivotal role in determining the state’s outcome. In the 2020 presidential election, Georgia was thought to be a Republican stronghold, having voted reliably for the GOP for over forty years. However, Trump’s defeat, along with significant Republican losses in two Senate races, ultimately decided the balance of power in the Senate.
“They’re neck and neck in Georgia,” noted Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and former deputy secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush, in an interview with Fox News Digital. “In 2020, we were still operating under the assumption that Georgia was Republican territory as it had been for a long time, but not only did Trump lose, we also saw those two Senate losses shortly after the election that determined the Senate’s control.”
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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump takes the stage with his vice presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, during a campaign rally at the Georgia State University Convocation Center in Atlanta on Aug. 3, 2024. (Joe Raedle/Staff)
“I believe some of the defeat can be attributed to Trump’s actions during that time. Thus, he must be cautious about his language and approach to Georgia, as alienating voters in such a tight race could have significant repercussions,” he stated.
The electorate in Georgia comprises a mix of longstanding rural voters who have historically backed Republicans, alongside a rising demographic of affluent, educated voters typically leaning Democratic, particularly in the suburbs of Atlanta.
Furthermore, Troy pointed out that Black voters represent a substantial segment of the electorate, traditionally favoring Democrats. Recent trends indicate Trump may be garnering better support among Black voters, particularly Black men, which could shift the overall voting landscape if he manages to diminish Democratic dominance in this group.
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Vice President Kamala Harris is shown at a campaign rally in Atlanta on July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia-based radio personality Erick Erickson, a former council member in Macon, reported to Fox News Digital, “In 2020, more than 30,000 individuals opted not to vote for Trump in Georgia, and he lost by around 12,000 votes.”
“His current actions are simply reminding everyone of the reasons they disapprove of him,” Erickson asserted. “He lacks a ground game in Georgia and will have to depend on Kemp’s support. That will definitely hinder him.”
Old tensions resurfaced during Trump’s recent rally in Atlanta when he criticized Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, for his refusal to overturn the 2020 election results. The governor reacted by suggesting Trump concentrate on winning in November and avoid “petty personal insults, attacking fellow Republicans or dwelling on the past.”
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Vice President Harris and former President Trump (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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In the meantime, Harris headlined a rally in Atlanta the prior week, where she addressed a crowd of approximately 10,000 – the largest turnout for this cycle for the Democratic Party’s national ticket, featuring a performance by hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion.
Fox News Digital’s Landion Mion and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
