HARRISBURG — Just over two weeks after he was injured in an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, former President Donald Trump is returning to Pennsylvania on Wednesday for a campaign rally in the state capital. Now the official 2024 GOP presidential nominee, Trump will work to firm up support for his candidacy in the key battleground state, in a presidential race that has changed dramatically over the past month.
After a poor debate performance in June, President Joe Biden bowed out of his reelection bid on July 21 and immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket. Democrats have coalesced behind Harris and she has secured enough commitments from state delegates to effectively clinch the nomination. That’s expected to become official at next month’s Democratic National Convention — or possibly before.
The attempted assassination at Trump’s Butler rally on July 13 left rallygoer Corey Comperatore dead, and two others injured. The gunman shot Trump’s ear using an AR-15-style rifle, and was killed by law enforcement at the scene. U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned July 23, following an intense congressional hearing where Democrats and Republicans grew dissatisfied with her answers about how the gunman was able to get within shooting range of the former president.
Two days after the shooting, Trump announced U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate, who was introduced during the Republican National Convention. Trump and Vance have campaigned together and separately in several swing states, but Vance has yet to come to Pennsylvania. U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who was also at the Butler rally, is scheduled to join Trump in Harrisburg.
Harris has yet to choose a running mate, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is believed to be one of several finalists for the job. The Harris campaign said late Tuesday that she will make a campaign visit to Philadelphia next Tuesday with her “future running mate” accompanying her.
A poll from Susquehanna Polling released Tuesday found Harris leading Trump by 4 points in Pennsylvania, 47% to 43%. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 3% in the poll, conducted between July 22 and 28.
Before he addresses the audience in Harrisburg, Trump will be interviewed at the National Association of Black Journalists at its annual convention in Chicago.
Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes make it the biggest prize among swing states, and both campaigns consider it key to winning the White House.
Biden beat Trump in Pennsylvania in 2020 by just over 80,000 votes.