Harris Also Opposes US Steel's Sale to Japan... Targeting Pennsylvania, a Key Swing State in the US Presidential Election (Comprehensive Report 2)

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris visited Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, known as the "Steel City," and expressed opposition to Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel. This move is seen as a strategic effort to secure decisive labor votes in battleground states ahead of the November presidential election. Particularly, Pennsylvania, a Rust Belt state and a battleground with the largest number of electoral votes among the seven swing states, is expected to witness intense competition as election day approaches.

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

Harris: "Opposed to US Steel Sale to Japan"

On Labor Day, September 2 (local time), Vice President Harris held a joint rally with President Joe Biden in Pittsburgh, stating, "US Steel is a historic American company" and "It must remain an American-owned and operated company." She emphasized, "It is important for our country to have a strong American steel industry," adding, "I will always stand with American steelworkers and support them."

Pittsburgh is home to the headquarters of US Steel, a symbol of American steel manufacturing. Nippon Steel announced plans last December to acquire US Steel for $14.9 billion (approximately 19.95 trillion KRW), but has since faced opposition from U.S. political circles and labor unions.

In this context, Vice President Harris, who has built close ties with labor unions alongside President Biden, visited Pittsburgh to express her commitment to supporting American steelworkers. The Associated Press noted, "It is not surprising that Harris shares the same stance as Biden on this issue," but also described it as "an important policy announcement from the vice president, who has not made many policy proposals since Biden decided to run for re-election."

President Biden publicly opposed the US Steel acquisition in a statement last March. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, also expressed public opposition, saying, "We revived the steel industry during my first term, and it is terrible that US Steel is being sold to Japan," adding, "I will immediately block it."

Before visiting Pittsburgh, Vice President Harris also visited Detroit, Michigan, another Rust Belt region and the cradle of the U.S. automotive industry. At a rally there, she said, "We will fight for a future where every worker has the freedom to organize," and "A strong union means a strong America." She also pledged to pass the PRO Act if elected, signaling her intention to strengthen labor rights. The PRO Act supports workers' rights to form and participate in unions and prohibits employers from retaliating against union organizing activities.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Harris Strengthens Pro-Union Stance... Pennsylvania Emerges as the Biggest U.S. Presidential Battleground

Vice President Harris’s expanded engagement with labor unions reflects the judgment that winning the votes of white working-class voters is crucial for electoral victory. The three Rust Belt battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin have unions representing one-fifth of the electorate. However, middle-class and lower-income white workers facing job losses and inflation have been leaning toward former President Trump, making union support even more critical for Harris.

Among battleground states, Pennsylvania, where Harris held a joint rally with President Biden, is expected to see the fiercest competition. Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes, the highest among swing states. Harris has visited Pennsylvania nine times this year alone. Her earlier shift from opposing to allowing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas extraction?amid environmental concerns?was also interpreted as a move to win 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 a Bloomberg TV interview last week, "Pennsylvania is a must-win state," and added, "We are considering investing more funds in Pennsylvania."

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

Bloomberg News reported, "The so-called ‘Blue Wall’ states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which delivered victories to Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020, will play a crucial role again in the November election," adding, "Harris and Biden are intensifying efforts to mobilize union votes in the region ahead of Labor Day."