Harris’ Atlanta rally with Megan Thee Stallion could draw more than 10,000 people, organizers say – NBC Connecticut

• Kamala Harris will hold a rally in Georgia, a state that is back in the Democratic campaign’s crosshairs after months of declining support with President Biden at the top of the ticket.
• Harris will be joined by several Democratic lawmakers, as well as rapper Megan Thee Stallion, as the campaign works to build momentum among younger voters.
• Harris’ first rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, drew a crowd of more than 3,000 people, the largest crowd of any campaign event this election cycle.

A major campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid could draw a crowd of more than 10,000 people Tuesday night in Atlanta, pushing the limits of the Georgia State University venue and marking the Biden-turned-Harris campaign’s largest event this cycle.

Long before the rally began Tuesday, the event featuring rapper Megan Thee Stallion had received 19,000 RSVPs, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, chairwoman of the Georgia Democratic Party, told Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Four hours before Harris’ speech was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, the line to get in stretched down the block outside the university’s Convocation Center, which has an official capacity of more than 7,500.

In a show of Harris’ bipartisan appeal, former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a Republican, is expected to attend. Democratic Georgia lawmakers like Williams and U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock will also be in attendance, as will Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race against former President Donald Trump, Harris has enjoyed a surge in popular enthusiasm and significant donations.

The surge in support potentially puts key states like Georgia back on the map for Democrats after months of declining support with Biden at the top of the ticket.

“You’ve heard us talk about the need to have the infrastructure in every battleground state to win close elections, but it’s clear that the vice president is energizing and mobilizing our base,” Harris campaign manager Dan Kanninen said Monday on a call with reporters.

Once a red stronghold, Georgia has become a hotbed for Democrats in recent election cycles because of the growing population of black and Latino voters who make up a significant portion of the party’s base.

But polls have shown Biden lagging behind those same demographics this year, a trend Harris’ campaign hopes its new presidential nominee can help reverse.

Since Biden left office, Harris has raised more than $200 million, two-thirds of which has come from new donors, according to the campaign. The campaign has also significantly bolstered its volunteer base with 360,000 new sign-ups.

The Georgia event marks Harris’ second official rally as part of her 2024 presidential campaign, though representatives, including vice presidential candidates, have campaigned for her at thousands of events, including about 2,300 over the weekend.

Harris’ first rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, drew a crowd of more than 3,000 people, the largest campaign event this election cycle.

With just under 100 days until the November election and even fewer days until early voting begins, the campaign is hoping to translate the initial wave of hype around Harris into real victories in key states.

Polls so far show Harris has revived the race against Trump, narrowing the gap with voters and bringing the election to a near tie.

Despite the honeymoon phase that has characterized Harris’ first week as a 2024 presidential candidate, the campaign is not ignoring the uphill battle that lies ahead.

“We are the outsiders in this race,” Kanninen said on Monday. “Our task now is to translate this enthusiasm into action.”