Josh Shapiro on How Kamala Harris Can Win Pennsylvania
1Digest
This podcast episode features an interview with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who discusses the significance of his state in the 2024 presidential election. He highlights Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes, its history of close races, and its current status as a purple state. Shapiro outlines his strategy for winning Pennsylvania for the Democratic candidate, emphasizing the need to build a coalition beyond just Democrats and the importance of showing up in rural areas. He also discusses the fracking issue and how Vice President Kamala Harris's stance has evolved, arguing that her shift from anti-fracking to pro-fracking demonstrates strength and listening to the needs of the people. Shapiro criticizes Donald Trump's tendency to change his stance on issues for political convenience and his use of divisive rhetoric, particularly his attacks on Shapiro as an "overrated Jewish governor." He expresses concern about the impact of Trump's rhetoric on the safety of Jewish Americans, particularly children who feel less safe due to his divisive language. The conversation also delves into Shapiro's views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where he emphasizes his condemnation of Hamas as a terrorist organization and his support for a two-state solution. He clarifies that his Jewish faith does not influence his policy decisions, particularly on issues related to Israel.
Outlines
Pennsylvania's Importance in the 2024 Election
This chapter discusses the significance of Pennsylvania in the 2024 presidential election, highlighting its 19 electoral votes and its history of close races. It also mentions the recent landslide victory of Democratic governor Josh Shapiro in 2022.
Winning Pennsylvania in 2024
Governor Shapiro shares his insights on how a Democrat can win Pennsylvania, emphasizing the need to build a coalition beyond just Democrats and the importance of showing up in rural areas. He also discusses the tight margins in past presidential elections and the need for candidates to connect with voters on a personal level.
Fracking, Vice President Harris, and Policy Evolution
The conversation delves into the fracking issue and how Vice President Kamala Harris's stance has evolved. Shapiro argues that her shift from anti-fracking to pro-fracking demonstrates strength and listening to the needs of the people, particularly in Pennsylvania, where energy is a significant part of the economy. He contrasts this with Donald Trump's tendency to change his stance for political convenience.
Donald Trump's Rhetoric and its Impact
Shapiro addresses Trump's comments about him being an "overrated Jewish governor," arguing that Trump's rhetoric is designed to divide and create "others" in society. He criticizes Trump's use of anti-Semitic tropes and his failure to meet the basic standard of "loving thy neighbor." He also expresses concern about the impact of Trump's rhetoric on the safety of Jewish Americans, particularly children who feel less safe due to his divisive language.
Keywords
Fracking
Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from shale rock formations. It involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the rock to create fractures, allowing the gas or oil to flow out. Fracking has been a controversial issue due to concerns about its environmental impact, including water contamination and potential seismic activity.
Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism is hostility or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group. It manifests in various forms, including prejudice, stereotypes, hate speech, and violence. Anti-Semitism has a long and complex history, rooted in religious and cultural differences, and has been a persistent problem throughout history.
Two-State Solution
The two-state solution is a proposed resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that envisions the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel. It is based on the principle of mutual recognition and the establishment of secure borders for both states. The two-state solution has been the subject of extensive negotiations and debate, with various proposals and challenges.
Retail Politics
Retail politics refers to the practice of engaging directly with voters on a personal level, often through face-to-face interactions, rallies, and community events. It contrasts with traditional campaign strategies that rely heavily on media and advertising. Retail politics emphasizes building relationships with voters and understanding their concerns.
Electoral Votes
Electoral votes are the votes cast by electors in the Electoral College, which determines the winner of the U.S. presidential election. Each state is allocated a number of electoral votes based on its population, with a total of 538 electoral votes nationwide. A candidate needs to win at least 270 electoral votes to become president.
Bellwether State
A bellwether state is a state that is considered to be a reliable indicator of the outcome of a national election. These states often have a history of voting in line with the national trend, making them valuable for predicting the overall results.
Purple State
A purple state is a state that is considered to be politically divided, with no clear majority for either the Democratic or Republican party. These states are often closely contested in elections, making them crucial battlegrounds.
Landslide Victory
A landslide victory is an election result where a candidate wins by a very large margin, often exceeding the typical margin of victory. It indicates a strong level of support for the winning candidate and a significant defeat for the opponent.
Q&A
What are the key factors that make Pennsylvania a crucial state in the 2024 presidential election?
Pennsylvania holds 19 electoral votes, ranking fifth in the nation, making it a critical state for winning the White House. Its history of close races and its current status as a purple state with a divided state house further emphasize its importance.
How does Governor Shapiro plan to win Pennsylvania for the Democratic candidate in the 2024 election?
Shapiro emphasizes the need to build a coalition beyond just Democrats, reaching out to like-minded independents and Republicans. He also stresses the importance of showing up in rural areas and connecting with voters on a personal level, recognizing that Pennsylvania is a \"retail state.\""
How does Governor Shapiro view Vice President Kamala Harris's evolution on the fracking issue?
Shapiro believes that Harris's shift from anti-fracking to pro-fracking demonstrates strength and a willingness to listen to the needs of the people, particularly in Pennsylvania, where energy is a significant part of the economy. He contrasts this with Donald Trump's tendency to change his stance for political convenience.
What are Governor Shapiro's concerns about Donald Trump's rhetoric and its impact on Jewish Americans?
Shapiro criticizes Trump's use of divisive rhetoric, particularly his attacks on Shapiro as an \"overrated Jewish governor.\" He believes that Trump's language is designed to divide and create \"others\" in society, and that it has a negative impact on the safety and well-being of Jewish Americans, particularly children who feel less safe due to his words.
Show Notes
In 2024, all eyes are on Pennsylvania: its nineteen electoral votes make it the largest swing state, and it’s considered a critical battleground for either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris to win the White House. For many years, Pennsylvania trended slightly blue, but the state has become deeply purple—with a divided state House and a series of razor-thin margins in general elections. One notable exception to this was the 2022 Pennsylvania governor’s race. The Democrat Josh Shapiro won by almost fifteen points against a Trump-aligned Republican, and his approval ratings in the state remain high. “To win in Pennsylvania, you’re not winning with only Democrats,” Shapiro told David Remnick. “You’ve got to get like-minded Independents and Republicans.” Shapiro was on the shortlist of candidates for Harris’s pick for Vice-President—which may be the cause of attacks from Donald Trump, including one calling him an “overrated Jewish governor.” He spoke with Remnick to talk about Harris’s choice of Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, as her running mate, and what it takes for a Democrat to win Pennsylvania. “We’re a big state, but we’re still a retail state,” Shapiro said, “meaning you got to show up!”
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