Democratic party volunteers from Rhode Island are heading to New Hampshire on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, two days before Election Day, in hopes of getting out the vote for presidential candidate Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz. (Dave Cummings | New Hampshire Bulletin)
Ahead of Election Day, Rhode Island Democrats plan to knock on as many doors they can to garner support of the Harris-Walz ticket — just in New Hampshire.
“Our friends in New Hampshire need our help to turn New Hampshire BLUE,” stated an email the Rhode Island Democratic Party sent out Wednesday afternoon. “New Hampshire races are too close to call.”
New Hampshire has the same number of electoral votes as Rhode Island — four. In seven of the last eight presidential elections, the Granite State has chosen a Democrat.
A survey released Oct. 25 by Emerson College showed Vice President Kamala Harris with a 3.6% lead over former President Donald Trump in New Hampshire.
Rhode Island’s volunteers are being organized though the state’s chapter of the AFL-CIO, which newly-elected president Patrick Crowley said was inspired by the Oct. 24 Providence fundraiser headlined by U.S. Commerce Secretary and former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo that raised over $200,000. Funds raised are supporting the Democratic presidential campaign in seven swing states.
Reporters were not allowed into the event, which also saw speeches from Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, and Gov. Dan McKee.
Raimondo told the crowd of about 200 people at the WaterFire Arts Center that Democrats can pull off a win on Tuesday, Nov. 5, if they go all-in on their ground game in swing states, Crowley told Rhode Island Current Wednesday.
“She also said if you have any time — do something,” he said. “If you can get to a swing state, get out there, make calls, send a postcard — that was my recollection of her remarks.”
Crowley said the Rhode Island AFL-CIO plans to field a team of upward of 30 volunteers, who will travel to the city of Dover, New Hampshire.
Rhode Island Democrats raised $605,000 when vice presidential candidate Tim Walz stopped by the campus of Salve Regina University in Newport for a 17-minute speech in August. During his remarks, Walz said funds would go toward opening field offices in swing states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Crowley said he expects funding to continue to go toward logistical and ad buys in swing states as Election Day approaches.
“Every little bit helps, even if it’s from little Rhode Island,” Crowley said.
A Rhode Island Current poll of 800 likely voters in September found Harris maintained a 12-percentage-point lead over Trump in the Ocean State.
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