Fox News Features Pudner Re: VP Pick Walz
Since our last update on Kamala Harris's potential to secure Pennsylvania and make Wisconsin the pivotal battleground state if she selected PA Governor Josh Shapiro, and my national Fox News Radio appearance discussing her choice of Tim Walz, Harris led Donald Trump in eight consecutive national and battleground polls (left half of the image below.)
This impressive streak for Harris began immediately after Trump faced backlash from the GOP for his August 3 attack on popular Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. Trump had opposed Kemp in Kemp's 2022 race, but Kemp won decisively, defeating Trump's candidate by a margin of 73% to 22%. While conservatives hope this incident is viewed as a low point, it was in this context that we appeared on Fox News Radio stations across the country, including:
WSJK Champlain, IL - The Stevie Jay Morning Show: Click here for what might be the most entertaining interview of the week, where our President used his childhood nickname "Johnny Pudner" to connect with the host's brother "Jonny" on a New Orleans Bible Study call.
WERC Birmingham, AL - Alabama Morning News with JT: Click here for the Pudner interview.
WFRK Florence, SC - Wake Up Carolina: Click here for the Pudner interview, which starts almost two hours into the program.
KURV McAllen, TX - Sergio Sanchez and Tim Sullivan (interview to be posted later).
WKIM Memphis, TN - Memphis Morning News with Ditch, Tim Van Horn & Jeff.
Two Days of Positive Polls for Trump
Thursday Atlanta media reported Trump says 'I hope we can repair' relationship with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in a statement also reported by Forbes and others. Harris had just had her first lead against Trump in Georgia in one poll.
Following the VP pick, I pointed out that when a campaign focuses on consolidating its base, it often shifts toward more extreme choices. Harris's selection of Walz over Shapiro suggests a strategy aimed at solidifying her base rather than positioning herself as a moderate. I also noted the importance for Harris’s campaign of keeping progressive canvassers—funded by significant contributions from figures like George Soros—actively engaged.
Despite the left’s edge from substantial funding, I highlighted how this gap is being closed by extensive canvassing efforts from organizations like AFP, Turning Point, and notably Faith and Freedom, which I oversee as President of the Wisconsin Faith and Freedom Coalition.
Previously, we noted that a moderate pick like Shapiro might have secured Pennsylvania for Harris and made Wisconsin the key swing state. Instead, by choosing Walz, Harris may have missed an opportunity. One recent poll now shows Trump maintaining a 2-point lead in Pennsylvania.
During the interviews after the VP rollout, I predicted that Harris’s surge might be short-lived, drawing a comparison to Sarah Palin's rise in 2008. Trump has strong support on several issues where over 70% of Americans favor him over Harris—such as support for Israel, stronger border security, fighting inflation, and protecting women's sports (see earlier post on our event with Riley Gaines.
Since the interviews and Harris’s rollout of Walz, Trump has regained the lead in 9 of 10 national and battleground polls. The only poll where Trump trailed during those two days was in Michigan, though even there, he improved his standing from a 12-point deficit to just a 2-point gap.
While different pollsters use various methods and have slight biases, if this trend continues, conservatives might hope Harris’s initial surge has ended. Harris is likely to receive a polling boost during the Democratic National Convention, as conventions have become essentially four-day TV ads for each party. However, her decision to choose a left-wing VP might undermine her appeal to moderates.
For specific poll figures, see the RealClearPolitics link above.
As many Wisconsinites are doing, our team will now focus on door-to-door canvassing and information dissemination at churches and other venues to encourage conservative voter turnout in Wisconsin’s Tuesday primaries. We’ll report back on those election results next week.
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