Riding a new blue wave of party enthusiasm, Kamala Harris campaigned in swing state Wisconsin on Tuesday as the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee. At that point, she was backed by 33 state delegations and counting, including all of New Jersey’s pledged delegates.
Atlantic County Committee Chair Michael Suleiman was the first New Jersey delegate to endorse Harris, even though he had reservations about swapping candidates so late in the race. He pointed out that voting by mail in New Jersey starts in just a couple of months. But he told NJ Spotlight News that he sees more campaign volunteers already signing up, “particularly amongst communities of color and African American women in particular, so I think that’s going to help.” He also predicted Harris will help carry candidates down-ballot.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll taken on Monday and Tuesday put Harris up by two points over Donald Trump— 44 to 42 — with a three-point margin of error. Monmouth Poll director Patrick Murray said the campaign basically hit a reset button, and that Harris can redefine herself and the race, while effectively distance herself from President Biden.
“Kamala Harris is only slightly tied to [Biden’s campaign],” Murray said. “She can move away from that, and she can focus much more on the negatives about Donald Trump. That could change the dynamic. So we’ll have to wait and see”
Beyond the Biden delegates, New Jersey still has to two uncommitted Democratic delegates who ran on the “Justice for Palestine — Ceasefire Now” platform. Now with Biden no longer leading the ticket, they said they hope Harris pushes harder for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
