Janice R. Andrews
On Saturday afternoon, over 500 golf carts marched through The Villages, a popular retirement community in Central Florida, sparking substantial attention to Kamala Harris’s presidential candidature. This unprecedented attendance is a significant milestone in Harris’s attempts to mobilise Floridians and increase Democratic support in the state, surpassing the 300 golf carts that purportedly supported President Biden prior to the 2020 election.
Florida Is An Important State
Florida is a “critical state” for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, according to her. Her team is using the recent gathering in The Villages, one of the most conservative neighbourhoods in Florida, as part of a statewide outreach effort to engage voters and find volunteers. The Tallahassee Democrat reports that around thirty percent of voters in Florida do not identify as members of either the Democratic or Republican parties. As such, the voter turnout in The Villages may be a sign of changing political dynamics in the area.
An Expression of Assistance
More than merely a parade, the gathering served as a show of support and fervour for Harris’s campaign. Those present voiced their enthusiasm and hope for her candidature for president. The Villages resident Tracey Carpenter, who went to the demonstration with her spouse, expressed her confidence in Harris’s capacity to bring the nation together. Carpenter told Villages-News, “She will win, and we will show the world that the United States can be united.” Luke Carpenter, her spouse, continued, “This nation is prepared for a female president. It goes beyond issues of race and gender. She improves not just the planet but also us. That is the proper role of the president.”
Accepting the Nickname “Brat”
When Harris’s candidature was revealed on July 21, several fans adopted his viral moniker, “Brat,” which was made popular by pop diva Charli XCX in a viral tweet on X (previously Twitter). Another Villager, Kay Gibson, had a “Brat” banner in lime green hanging on her golf cart. Gibson answered briefly when asked what “Brat” meant, saying, “It’s Kamala.”
Notable Volunteer and Fundraising Initiatives
According to the Associated Press, since declaring her candidature in the wake of President Biden’s withdrawal from the race, Harris has gathered $200 million and recruited 170,000 volunteers. The campaign’s Florida director, Jasmine Burney-Clark, stated that more volunteers than any other state—9,000—have been gathered from every Florida county.
The Value of Central Florida and The Villages
With 97.4% of its population being white, as reported by the Census, The Villages has consistently supported the Republican nominee in general elections since 2000. The Villages is located in Sumter County, which decisively supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, giving him 67.7% of the vote to Joe Biden’s 31.68%.
Conservative politicians have made frequent trips to the region; Trump made two trips to The Villages during his 2020 campaign. The community’s political conflicts were brought to light in 2020 when a pro-Trump rally attendee said, “White power!” in a video that Trump retweeted.
The enthusiasm around Harris’s rally in The Villages is notable, despite its conservative past. Political scientist Aubrey Jewett of the University of Central Florida offered his thoughts on the event’s relevance. “It’s been a long time since someone could generate such a strong sense of enthusiasm,” Jewett stated to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “The last time the Democrats really had that at the top of the ticket was Barack Obama.”
Difficulties and Hope
Voter turnout is the primary obstacle facing Democrats, despite encouraging participation in The Villages. Low Democratic attendance helped Republican Governor Ron DeSantis defeat Democratic opponent Charlie Crist in Florida’s 2022 midterm elections. The head of the Democratic Party in the Florida House of Representatives, Fentrice Driskell, stressed the need of voter fervour and participation. “What we experienced in 2022 was a dearth of zeal and little participation. This is the exact opposite circumstance that exists in 2024.”
Diverse Responses
Not everyone believes that The Villages’ high participation portends a Democratic wave. Governor DeSantis played down the importance of the event, saying that compared to the regular golf cart traffic in The Villages, the number of guests is negligible. A few Trump fans also voiced doubt, thinking that Harris’s popularity is only a “honeymoon” period that will pass as the election draws near.
Congressman Byron Donalds, a Republican, attacked Harris’s record and said that her programmes, such the Green New Deal and Medicaid for everyone, would be bad for the nation.
Gazing Forward
The voting record of The Villages indicates that Harris will have a difficult time winning in conservative Florida counties. Veteran Florida political operator Reggie Cardozo voiced doubts about Harris’s chances of winning the state. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from South Florida, is still optimistic about Harris’s capacity to inspire people and even change the tide in Florida.
The results of Harris’s campaigning in Florida will become more evident as the 2024 election season draws to a close. Her The Villages event might be a precursor to changing political dynamics in a state that is still vital to all presidential candidates.
