Quick Hit:

Pennsylvania Democrats are raising concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, pointing to the absence of local knowledge, mismanagement, and poor outreach. They criticize campaign manager Nikki Lu for being "AWOL" and sidelining minority staff and elected officials.

Key Details:

• Nikki Lu, Harris’ Pennsylvania campaign manager, has been criticized as being absent and lacking understanding of Philadelphia’s political landscape.
• Latino and Black campaign staff have reportedly been excluded from key events and decision-making processes.
• Local elected officials feel disrespected and sidelined, with complaints of restricted access to vital voter data.

Diving Deeper:

As Pennsylvania remains a crucial state in the presidential race, top Democrats in the state are voicing frustration over Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign operation. Much of the criticism focuses on Pennsylvania campaign manager Nikki Lu, whose lack of engagement and understanding of the Philadelphia political scene has stirred concerns among local leaders.

Lu has been described as "AWOL" by multiple Democratic figures, including elected officials who say her absence has left them feeling disrespected and sidelined. A Democratic official noted, “I feel like we’re going to win here, but we’re going to win it in spite of the Harris state campaign.” Many point to Lu’s background in Pittsburgh and a perceived disconnect from Philadelphia’s dynamics as a key problem for Harris’ campaign.

Compounding these issues, minority campaign staffers have reported feeling excluded from major events and decisions. Latino and Black leaders met with Harris’ team in recent weeks, pushing for a more inclusive strategy. Mariel Joy Kornblith Martin, a former Latino coalition manager for the campaign, left after just two weeks, citing inadequate access to crucial voter data. In a memo to state party leaders, she wrote, “Please give us the tools to win,” stressing that Pennsylvania’s diverse electorate requires a targeted approach.

Local officials also complain about being left out of important campaign decisions and feel that the Harris team is neglecting critical relationships that could boost voter turnout. Ryan Boyer, a powerful labor leader in Philadelphia, remarked, “I have concerns about Nikki Lu,” pointing to her lack of connection with the city's political circles. Other Democratic leaders believe that this lack of local knowledge has hindered effective outreach to key voting blocs.

Although Harris’ team has recently brought on new staff, including seasoned campaign advisers, many Democrats worry that these changes are too little, too late. The success of Harris’ campaign in Pennsylvania hinges on turning out voters of color in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. But with ongoing frustrations among local leaders and minority campaign staff, doubts persist about whether the current approach can deliver the necessary results.

"Kamala" by Gage Skidmore licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED.