Harris Also Opposes US Steel's Sale to Japan... Targeting Pennsylvania, a Key Battleground State in the US Presidential Election (Summary)

Joint Rally with Biden in Pittsburgh for Labor Day
In Detroit, "We Will Fight for Union Organizing Freedom"
Union Votes Decisive in Rust Belt and Battleground State Victory
Pennsylvania, with Many Electors, as the Biggest Battleground

Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential candidate in the United States, is visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, known as the 'Steel City,' to express opposition to Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel. This move is seen as a strategic effort to secure the decisive labor vote in the battleground state just over two months before the November presidential election. Pennsylvania, part of the Rust Belt and a swing state, has the largest number of electoral votes among the seven battleground states, making the contest increasingly intense as election day approaches.

"Harris Opposes US Steel Sale to Japan"

On the 2nd (local time), coinciding with Labor Day in the U.S., Vice President Harris plans to hold a joint rally with President Joe Biden in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she will announce this position.

Pittsburgh is home to the headquarters of US Steel, a symbol of American steel manufacturing. When Nippon Steel announced in December last year that it would acquire US Steel for $14.9 billion, there was strong opposition from labor unions and political circles in the U.S. In response, Vice President Harris, who has built close ties with labor unions over decades alongside President Biden, plans to emphasize that US Steel should be owned and operated by American capital and express her commitment to supporting American steelworkers.

This stance aligns with President Biden’s position. Earlier, in March, President Biden publicly opposed the US Steel acquisition in a statement. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, also expressed opposition to the merger and acquisition (M&A) between the two companies. With opposition from U.S. political circles and labor unions coinciding with the presidential election season, Nippon Steel’s acquisition of US Steel is facing difficulties. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) are currently reviewing the matter.

Before visiting Pittsburgh, Vice President Harris also visited Detroit, Michigan, the cradle of the American automobile industry. At a rally in Detroit, she said, "We will fight for a future where every worker can enjoy the freedom to organize," and added, "If I become president, I will pass the PRO Act and end union busting forever." This indicates her intention to strengthen union rights by passing the PRO Act, which includes measures to increase penalties for employers who interfere with union activities.

Harris Strengthens Pro-Union Moves... Accelerates Campaign in Pennsylvania, the Biggest Battleground in the U.S. Presidential Election

Vice President Harris’s expansion of contact with labor unions is driven by the judgment that winning the votes of white working-class voters is crucial for victory in the presidential election. The three Rust Belt swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin have unions representing one-fifth of the electorate. However, white working-class voters below the middle class, struggling with job losses and inflation, are leaning toward former President Trump, making it even more important for Harris to secure union support.

Especially Pennsylvania, where Vice President Harris is campaigning jointly with President Biden, is expected to be the most fiercely contested among the battleground states. Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes, the highest among the swing states. This is why Harris has visited Pennsylvania nine times this year alone, including this visit. She also changed her stance on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas extraction?from 'opposition' to 'allowance'?to win the votes of Pennsylvania voters. Fracking is a major source of income in Pennsylvania, where shale gas production is active.

Former President Trump is also focusing on Pennsylvania. His daughter-in-law and co-chair of the Republican National Committee, Lara Trump, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV last week, "Pennsylvania is a must-win area," and added, "We are considering investing more funds in Pennsylvania."

Both sides are pouring huge amounts of advertising money into Pennsylvania. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), from July 22 to August 12, the Harris and Trump campaigns spent a total of $42 million on election advertising in Pennsylvania, accounting for 38% of the $110 million spent across all seven battleground states.

Bloomberg reported, "Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, once known as the 'Blue Wall' (Democratic strongholds), delivered victories to Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020, and will play an important role again in the November election," adding, "Harris and Biden are intensifying their efforts in this region to win union votes on Labor Day."