College-educated voters have been turning to the Democratic Party over the last few election cycles. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee for the third consecutive election, gained support among black men, Latinos and voters without a college education.

But Democratic strategists say college-educated Americans who vote and donate at high rates could help Harris win the presidency.

“They are incredibly reliable voters,” said Molly Murphy, Harris’ campaign pollster, adding that Harris’ warnings about Trump appealed specifically to that group. “These messages, warnings about the danger of a second Trump term weaponizing the military against American citizens when it comes to our national security and even our homeland security, are what resonate with college-educated voters; But not just these voters.”

Polls show Harris and Trump in a static, deadlocked race with just 10 days until Election Day. Candidates are fighting for a small slice of undecided voters in seven battleground states that polls show are statistically tied: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

Part of the Harris campaign’s strategy late in the election is to increase turnout among college-educated women, who have proven to be a key Democratic voter base in the last few elections, especially in the 2022 midterms where Democrats have beaten expectations. But the campaign also believes that a group of university-educated men are still persuadable. Murphy said surveys show that the dangers of a Trump presidency remain one of this group’s biggest concerns, and that they are less likely to be affiliated with a single political party and have entered the political process late.

Harris, who has run a historically compressed campaign since replacing Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket less than four months ago, has spent her first weeks on the campaign trail talking about pocketbook issues and abortion and focusing on introducing herself to voters who know little about her. about him.

But the fact that he spent much of his time in the final weeks of the campaign warning that Trump was unstable and unfit for the presidency is informed by an internal survey that shows such messages could help boost turnout among undecided voters, especially those with college degrees. As part of that effort, he highlighted former Trump officials, including former chief of staff John F. Kelly, who warned about the dangers Trump poses to the nation. The campaign’s focus on Trump is also notable among other voter groups, including voters without college degrees, but those groups also care about the economy, health care and other issues, Murphy said.

In national polls, Harris leads among college graduates by 19 percentage points; That’s slightly above President Joe Biden’s 17-point margin in 2020 exit polls and comparable sources. Among voters without a college education, Trump leads by nine points — slightly higher than his own score. Five point difference in 2020.

Some Democrats are concerned about Harris’ numbers among other key constituencies that helped put Barack Obama and Biden into the Oval Office. Harris holds a 24-point advantage among non-White voters; That’s much lower than Biden’s 47-point advantage in 2020. Polls based on the gap between black and Hispanic voters show Harris leading by an average of 59 points; Biden wins the group with 81 points. Points in post-election sources. Harris holds a narrow five-point lead among Hispanic voters, compared to Biden’s 29-point lead.

College graduates made up 35 percent of voting-age citizens in 2020, compared to 40 percent of registered voters and 42 percent of general election voters, according to a Census Bureau turnout survey. Education is also one of the strongest determinants of participation; College graduates participate in voting at much higher rates than those with a high school diploma or less.

Democrats’ growing strength among college-educated voters, who have higher incomes than non-college graduates, also means Democrats can raise more money in races up and down the ballot, strategists said.

“The migration of high-income, highly educated voters to the Democratic Party will not only be crucial for voters in battleground states. Their money helps power all of our campaigns across the country,” said prominent Democratic Party member Simon Rosenberg. “This is one of the most important events to happen in American politics in recent years, because Democrats are used to living in a world where we spend significantly more than Republicans “They are not.”

Harris will deliver her closing remarks to the American people on Tuesday at the Ellipse in Washington, where Trump spoke just before the Jan. 6 riot. The Harris event, which the campaign hopes will break the news cycle more than visiting another battleground state, is also aimed at appealing to the fears of college voters and others about a second term for Trump, campaign officials said.

On January 6, 2021, Trump held a rally at the Ellipse and called on his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol as Congress finalized the presidential election results. In his speech, Trump told the crowd to “fight” for him and “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” A mob then stormed the building, delaying the work of Congress. More than 1,400 people have been charged federally in connection with the attack.

Harris’ speech will focus on more than Trump, according to a campaign official who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview remarks that are not yet final. The vice president will also make a statement The contrast between what his first term as president would look like and what the former president’s second term might bring. Planning to take a position sees and discusses himself as a defender of national security and president of all Americans HE Trump poses a unique danger to the country.

In recent weeks, Harris has held campaign events with former congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wisconsin) in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Cheney, who is backing the vice president — the first time she has said she is supporting a Democrat — and is trying to persuade other Republicans to cross party lines and vote for Harris.

“We are seeing a seismic shift for Republicans; college-educated voters, especially white voters with degrees, have been reliable Republicans for decades, but now they are turning away from Trump and his toxicity,” Jim Messina said. Obama’s 2012 campaign stated in a statement. “These are not ordinary voters; “These are the people who turn out in every election, and the numbers tell the story.”

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Scott Clement contributed to this report.