Jen Psaki: Why Harris’ Georgia trip is especially smart

She isn’t just relying on Atlanta to win [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news with Jen Psaki [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news with Jen Psaki Saturday, August 31, 2024 [Kamala Harris’ Georgia trip highlights a savvy broader strategy]( [Alternate text] [By Jen Psaki](   This week, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz went boldly where no major presidential campaign [has gone in several decades…]( Savannah, Georgia. This is a big deal because it signals the Harris-Walz campaign is not relying solely on running up vote totals in heavily Democratic Atlanta and its nearby suburbs; Democrats are also trying to narrow the margins in the more conservative, rural areas. In those locations, it is not about actually winning whole towns or counties; it's about losing them by less. The strategy reminds me of how Barack Obama approached the [Iowa caucuses in 2007 and his 2004 Senate campaign](before that. He showed up in both blue counties and blue cities and in rural counties, small towns and places where many people were surprised to see him. This was also the strategy Sen. Raphael Warnock implemented in 2020 and 2022 in Georgia. Warnock’s former campaign manager Quentin Folks is now Harris’ principal deputy campaign manager. A rural Georgia native, [Folks recently said](, “You have to really stave down margins and go places even when you don’t think you can win it outright… You know you’re going to lose that county, but just showing up there can sometimes be the difference between 5 to 10 percentage points, or sometimes just putting an office there.” One bus tour does not win an election, but it does show a willingness by the Harris-Walz campaign to meet people where they are and to put in the work of showing up. As much as politics has changed over the last several years, it turns out there’s still value in a good old fashioned bus tour. [Read more exclusive insights from Jen Psaki here.]( //link.msnbc.com/click/36592589.86453/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL2luc2lkZS13aXRoLWplbi1wc2FraS9oaWxsYXJ5LWNsaW50b24tamVuLXBzYWtpLWludGVydmlldy1yY25hMTExNDU1P2NpZD1lbWxfbWRhXzIwMjQwODMxJnVzZXJfZW1haWw9ZDdkYzc0NTE3Mjk3YjM5NzFhYTE0ZDZmMzMxMTM1YTA4NzhmOGY2NDBmYTFhMTAxOWYxNTdiNjVjMWI1ZGQxZA/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914B3a1aece8And tune into "Inside with Jen Psaki" Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, and Sundays at 12 p.m. ET on MSNBC.     TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [ZEESHAN ALEEM]( [Why Kamala Harris is messaging Latino voters without using the word 'Latino']( Kamala Harris is deviating from the usual Dem playbook on Latino outreach. It’s refreshing. [Read more.]( [JA'HAN JONES]( [Ruben Gallego’s disturbing letter offers Phoenix police a major gift]( Just one day after being endorsed by the Arizona Police Association, the Senate hopeful slammed a DOJ report accusing Phoenix police of discrimination and urged the agency not to pursue a consent decree. 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[Subscribe to MSNBC Premium]( on Apple Podcasts and listen to this special bonus episode now.   msnbc.com/democracy2024 On Saturday, September 7th, you can attend "MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024," our premiere fan event in Brooklyn, New York. This first of its kind in-person, interactive experience will offer inside perspectives from some of your favorite hosts and experts as we approach a historic election and a pivotal moment in our democracy. [Buy your tickets today.](msnbc.com/democracy2024)   MSNBC INSIGHTS [Alternate text] Have you ever wanted to provide MSNBC with your opinion about their TV programs, documentaries, and digital products, such as MSNBC.com, newsletters, and podcasts? Now is your chance! [Join the MSNBC Insights Community.](   This weekend on MSNBC SATURDAY - MSNBC’s “PoliticsNation” at 5pm ET: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.)… American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten - MSNBC’s “The Saturday Show” at 6pm ET: Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio)… State Sen. 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