A Democrat-leaning super PAC, America’s Future Majority Fund, has started a new ad campaign highlighting Vice President Kamala Harris' support for Ukraine.
The ads are running in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
According to United24 Media, they focus on Eastern European-American voters, especially Polish, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian communities.
Targeting Swing States
Politico announced the campaign on September 12, aiming to reach important voter groups before the 2024 election.
The ads stress Harris' record on Ukraine and her strong opposition to Russian aggression. This comes as Harris works to connect with ethnic communities in states that will play a crucial role in the election.
During a debate on September 10, Harris directly appealed to Polish Americans, warning that Poland could be in danger if Russia's war in Ukraine continues unchecked.
"If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now," she said, adding that Putin’s goals go beyond Ukraine.
Eastern European communities in these swing states make up a significant part of the electorate. In Pennsylvania, Polish and Ukrainian communities together make up about six percent of the population, while Polish Americans account for around nine percent in Michigan and eight percent in Wisconsin.
These groups could play a critical role in a close race.
In 2020, Joe Biden won Wisconsin by just 0.7 percentage points, or around 20,000 votes, with similar close results in other battleground states.
Different Views on Ukraine
The ad campaign also contrasts Harris' strong support for Ukraine with Donald Trump's more unclear stance on the conflict.
In the same debate, Trump said the U.S. should "finish the war" in Ukraine through negotiation but didn’t say whether he thought a Ukrainian victory was important for the U.S.
The ads highlight Trump’s past comments, including a statement that he would let Russia "do whatever the hell they want" to NATO countries not meeting defense spending goals.
America's Future Majority Fund is run by key Democrats like former New Jersey Representative Tom Malinowski and Maryland State Senator Jim Rosapepe, who was once the U.S. ambassador to Romania. The group is also led by Mark Siegel, a former executive director of the Democratic National Committee.
While the super PAC is independent from political candidates, its campaign in support of Harris lines up closely with her recent public messaging.
