Staff Reports
In the small town of Quitman, Georgia, President Joe Biden is gearing up to prove his 2020 victory in the Peach State wasn’t just a one-time fluke. According to the Washington Examiner, if the 81-year-old can clinch a second win in Georgia, it would decisively quash doubts about his age and approval ratings while demonstrating substantial support in the state. However, the Biden campaign’s investment in Georgia remains uncertain.
QUITMAN, Georgia — President Joe Biden’s White House and, by extension, his 2024 reelection campaign are out to prove the close Georgia win last time was no fluke.https://t.co/6IUAYgDWXz https://t.co/6IUAYgDWXz
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 1, 2024
The President’s reelection strategy doesn’t necessarily hinge on Georgia’s 16 Electoral College votes. Winning Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin could secure Biden’s path back to the White House, with the possibility of losing Nevada and still clinching victory. While Georgia might not be Biden’s top priority, political science professor Andra Gillespie believes it’s still a competitive battleground.
The upcoming presidential race in Georgia is expected to showcase the familiar clash between urban and suburban voters favoring Democrats, versus strong Republican support in rural areas like Quitman, known for its notable past and pro-slavery roots. Despite Trump’s dominance in Brooks County in 2020, the changing demographics and population shifts could shake up the political landscape for the upcoming election.
The Georgia electorate has been undergoing a significant transformation with a growing non-white population and an influx of professionals bringing their left-leaning politics to the state. The election of Democratic senators in the 2020 runoffs, combined with demographic changes, has presented a stiff challenge for Republicans in the traditionally red state.
With no major contests on the 2024 Georgia ballot, Democrats will need to ramp up their efforts for a potential statewide victory. According to David McLaughlin, Democratic chairman in the 14th Congressional District, strategic political organizing and mobilization efforts could make a considerable impact, especially in traditionally Republican areas, bolstered by the booming Latino population and potential black voter turnout in key areas.
