In a significant political shift, a large number of Democrats in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of President Biden, are reportedly changing their party affiliation to Republican, as revealed by the state's recent voter registration data.
This development could have serious implications for Biden's reelection prospects, given the critical role Pennsylvania plays in presidential elections. Earlier this year, Biden had praised Philadelphia campaign donors as the "backbone" of his presidential campaign.
The state department's data, as of December 18, reveals that 35,589 Democrats have re-registered as Republicans this year, while only 15,622 Republicans have switched to the Democratic Party. This trend was initially reported by Newsweek on Tuesday.
President Biden's connection to Pennsylvania is further strengthened by his wife Jill's roots in Montgomery County and his granddaughter Maisy's recent graduation from the University of Pennsylvania. The White House announced on Wednesday that Biden is scheduled to visit Philadelphia on January 6, marking his first visit to the city.
Nathan Benefield, senior vice president of the Commonwealth Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based public policy think tank, stated in an interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday that despite Pennsylvania's status as a swing state, President Biden is unpopular there. Benefield attributes this unpopularity largely to the president's economic policies, often referred to as "Bidenomics."
Benefield noted, "Voters are saying they're not happy with Bidenomics and the economy, and I think that's reflected in the registration and some of the voting patterns." He also suggested that a shift is taking place among blue-collar Democrats in the state, especially in the western region, where Republicans have traditionally been favored in presidential elections. This shift appears to be extending to lower-level elections and is now evident in party registration.
The state's voter registration data also reveals a significant trend of voters distancing themselves from party affiliations. Specifically, 20,908 Democrats and 18,927 Republicans have opted to leave their respective parties.
In the 2020 election, Biden defeated Trump by 1.2 percentage points in Pennsylvania, a state that Trump had won in 2016. The state will have 19 electoral votes in the 2024 election, one less than in 2020. Current surveys suggest that Biden is either on par with or slightly trailing Trump.
In the 2020 election, Trump lost to Biden in Pennsylvania by just under 80,000 votes.
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