Kamala Harris prefers the suburbs to Philadelphia. It might cost her Pennsylvania and the Presidency. 

She certainly campaigns more in the suburbs than Philly, especially recently. Now, she is trotting across the “burbs” with her new best friend, “Republican” Liz Cheney.

Harris prefers to give speeches or to participate in staged, structured events with scripts, invited audiences and little to no engagement with voters. Even when she holds “town halls,” the audience isn’t allowed to ask questions. There are pre-selected topics “of interest,” as moderators explained to puzzled audience members.

Harris gets most passionate talking about Donald Trump, nationalizing unlimited abortion rights and ironically,“saving Democracy” — so says the candidate nominated without one primary voter voting for her.

When you put it all together, it begins to make sense. 

In general, the issues Harris is most passionate about are not top three issues — maybe not even top five — among urban voters, who are overwhelmingly black and Hispanic. Those voters have been disproportionately harmed by higher prices, rising violent crime, and failing schools. They are sometimes pushed aside or pushed down when illegal immigrants come into the workforce.

Plus, folks who are impacted by those very real, very tangible quality of life issues don’t appreciate staged events with fake “questions” or lectures from Liz Cheney about “democracy.”

So, Harris put African American and Hispanic voters on the back-burner to pursue the issues she cares about and to talk at voters who are more likely to want to hear what she’s saying.

Look at where she’s been: A staged speech at Washington’s Crossing, Bucks County to a limited audience, joined by Liz Cheney. A “town hall” in Malvern, Chester County with Cheney and an invited audience and no live questions permitted. And next up: another “town hall” in Delaware County.

Why does it seem as though Kamala Harris prefers campaigning in the suburbs, rather than Philadelphia? Why is she so focused on white Republicans and not black and brown Democrats in the city? Is she taking them for granted, at her peril?

Don’t take my word for it. Philadelphia Democrats have been complaining — out loud, even to the media —  that they’re being ignored and taken for granted. 

Whether it’s ignorance, arrogance, or that she is just more comfortable with suburban voters, it’s a huge risk so far. And, with less than two weeks, any last-minute campaign stops may be too little, too late.

As news is breaking about the “big concert” being planned in Philadelphia the week before the election, some free advice for Harris: The answer is not Bruce Springsteen. Not only did this fail for Hillary, but Bruce is the wrong messenger. 

Worse for her cause, staged events and shows aren’t what actual middle class and working families want. They want their gas, groceries and electricity to be cheaper and they want to feel safe walking and shopping at night and allowing their kids to play. They want schools that work, and they want school choice to allow them to have that. Why won’t she talk with these voters?  And actually listen to them?

And, why is it that when she meets with black audiences, her voice and vocabulary change? It’s even worse with Hispanic audiences. Maybe…just maybe…she isn’t genuinely comfortable with who she is and isn’t comfortable around people that she truly cannot relate to. Maybe that’s why she campaigns in Malvern and not West Philly.

Nationally, the parties are changing bases. The Democrats prefer wealthier, college “educated” voters and strengthening their ties to big business, while the GOP is growing its support with blue collar voters, union tradesmen, small business owners, with more and more Hispanic and African American voters as a part of that mix.

For Philadelphia Democrats — for Philadelphians in general — when national Democrats pushed out Joe Biden and replaced him with Kamala Harris, it meant losing someone they’ve known for decades. Someone who knew us. He was replaced with Biden’s junior partner, a San Francisco politician. Someone who seems more at ease in Washington’s Crossing than on Washington Avenue.

Voters — especially those who are struggling — want to know that candidates understand their concerns, hopes, and priorities. Knows their communities. It appears as though Harris assumes that Philadelphia Democratic voters will just trust that she understands them — or vote for their party.

In a state that’s been decided by one percent in 2016 and 2020, Democrats took a huge risk in Pennsylvania by pushing out Biden for Harris. In 2020, even as Biden was edging out Trump to carry Pennsylvania, Trump grew his support in Philadelphia. National and state polls have shown not only the GOP, but especially Trump, growing support among Hispanic and black voters.

As for “feeling Philadelphians pain,” Harris spent most of 2024 explaining how Bidenomics was working, how violent crime was decreasing, and why we needed to spend more money and provide more services for illegal immigrants. That’s not exactly the stump speech voters in North Philly were looking for. 

Knowing all of this, it’s even more baffling that Harris and her campaign have taken Philadelphians for granted.

At a moment when you’re unknown and your issues don’t overlap with Philadelphians, it’s not time to abandon them. This is not just changing party bases; this is benign neglect, even arrogance. 

The reality may be that she doesn’t seem comfortable anywhere but with suburbanites, elites, and “experts.” That would explain the limited visits, staged events, and even the occasional fake slang and accents.

In America, the parties are shifting voter bases. In Pennsylvania, Harris has decided to lean into that change; not fight to hold on to her black and Hispanic base.

Maybe Kamala Harris just doesn’t feel their pain. And her campaign isn’t about easing their pain.

Guy Ciarrocchi is a writer for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. He is a former nominee for Congress and a strategist. Follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.