Battleground Politics: Lauren Mayk speaks with voters, leaders across Pa.

As Election Day draws near, presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are making their final push for voters. Earlier in October, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spent a week traveling across Pennsylvania, a key swing state that is expected to play a pivotal role in the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren shares highlights from her tour in which she spoke with voters, volunteers, officials and political leaders about Harris, Trump and the key issues of the election.

Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk

Battleground Politics Sep 23

GOP VP nominee JD Vance talks immigration, IVF, Mark Robinson allegations  

Battleground Politics Sep 9

What voters want to hear from Harris, Trump during presidential debate in Philly

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:

:33 – Speaking with voters in the Pittsburgh area  

2:10 – Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker talks the importance of Beaver County, Pa.

3:50 – House Speaker Joanna McClinton on the political differences across Pennsylvania

4:27 – Fracking and the energy industry

6:28 – Speaking with voters and volunteers in Erie County, Pennsylvania

11:13 – Penn State University students on the presidential election

14:13 – Gov. Josh Shapiro on Kamala Harris and the election

18:42 – Eric Trump talks about his father Donald Trump and Pennsylvania

23:12 – Scranton Mayor and voters speak on the election

24:49 – Hazleton-area voters and the presidential election

28:15 – Lancaster County voters and the presidential election

29:47 – Berks County leader, voter speak on the election

You can subscribe to Battleground Politics on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever else you get your favorite podcasts. You can also watch or listen to every episode right here on NBC10.com, the NBC10 YouTube channel, and in rotation on our streaming channels.

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Lauren Mayk's Battleground Politics Tour across Pennsylvania

Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 -- Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

The Neptune Diner has been in Lancaster for more than 80 years. This year, customers have a big decision to make in the swing state of Pennsylvania.

I spoke with Joan Dillenbeck, a native of Hanover, York County, while at the diner.

"I definitely know who I'm going to vote for," she said. "Trump. Definitely."

Dillenbeck told me she believes Trump will do well for the country. She's also a fan of Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance.

"I think he's very good. Very intelligent and he really cares about America," she said.

At another table at the diner, Rebecca Wortman Luna of Millersville, Pennsylvania, told me she feels worried about the election.

"I'm worried that the red team might win but if it does, I don't know what we'll do," she said. "I just don't find Trump to be an honorable person."

Luna told me she plans on voting for Kamala Harris.

"She's got so much energy and to me it's positive energy to do good," she said. "She's a woman and she's for women's rights and protecting women so I feel really positively about her."

I also spoke to another man in the diner named Pete Argyropoulos. He told me he voted for Joe Biden in 2020. While he doesn't regret his choice, he's still unsure who he'll vote for this time around. He also said he wishes Democrats had time for a primary race this year after Biden dropped out and he's not excited about either option.

"I'm kind of thinking of just writing in a third party candidate," he said. "I've never done that before. That would be something new but I'm getting a lot of pressure not to do that."

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 -- Scranton, Pennsylvania

In Scranton, Pennsylvania, the hometown of President Joe Biden, the Biden name is very familiar given his local roots. But Biden is not on the ballot this year, something that Scranton’s Democratic Mayor Paige Cognetti is well aware of.

“Here in Scranton we’ve had a lot of emotions over the last few months but we’ve been able to walk and chew gum at the same time,” she said. “Kamala Harris is who Joe Biden chose when he became the presidential nominee. It’s who he chose right away when he decided to pass the torch. She has his confidence and we feel that right here in Scranton and we support her for that reason.”

Mayor Cognetti also addressed the Scranton residents who don’t know as much about Harris.

"There are absolutely folks who have had to kind of go through the last couple months, getting to know her better, looking into her policies, seeing her do more interviews. We’ve seen that. As we come into these final weeks though I think people realize what the difference is. They’ve heard from her. What those policies look like,” she said. “Kamala Harris is going to be there for people.”

I also spoke with Bonnie Layland, a resident of Dunmore, Lackawanna County, who says she plans on voting for Trump for a third time.

“I love Trump. I volunteered for him the last election,” she said. “He is the one that’s going to save America. He truly is. I mean there are a lot of people suffering.”

Layland mentioned immigration, foreign policy and prices as major issues for her.

“We are donating all this money to different counties. I mean I’m a compassionate person and I understand do your fair share," she said. "But we have people that have needs here. Personally, I have health issues. I have lung problems. I can’t afford my inhalers.”

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 - Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Amilcar Arroyo runs the monthly Spanish language publication El Mensajero International in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The last census showed two thirds of the residents in Hazleton are Hispanic or Latino, part of a population that Arroyo says is in demand.

"The candidates are desperately trying to gain the votes in Reading, in Allentown, in Hazleton," Arroyo said. "Doing my researching for how the Latino people are going to vote November 5, I'm surprised more Latinos than in the election in 2016 and 2020 are supporting Donald Trump."

Arroyo says the main issues of concern he's been hearing from the community are the economy, housing, abortion and immigration.

"They believe that the border with Trump would be closed and these are Latino people," Arroyo said. "I say, 'But you are Latino, you came in the same way.' They say, 'Yeah, but this time they came, criminals to the border, they came. And they are all criminals and we don’t want that.’”

Arroyo told me the advice he's been sharing with voters.

"Vote for what your heart and your brain tell you," he said.

Hazleton is a small city in Luzerne County, one of the counties that flipped from blue to red in 2016. Donald Trump won the county again in 2020. As I traveled across Pennsylvania, I met a group from a different part of Luzerne County, including Adam Napolitano who lives in Mountain Top, an area between Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre -- where Kamala Harris held a rally in September.

"I'd say I'm still kind of on the fence right now a little bit," Napolitano said. "Normally, I lean conservative. I lean Republican. But with the two options we have in front of us, it doesn't leave a lot for choice. It's going to be a tough decision for sure."

As far as what he wants from both candidates to help win him over, Napolitano said he wants to see their plan for the economy going forward.

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 - State College, Pennsylvania

The presidential race has the attention of Penn State students in State College, Pennsylvania, even if they aren't thrilled with the options. Those students include Noah Flenard, who told me he's feeling "a little uneasy" about the election.

"To be perfectly frank, I don't 100 percent agree with both candidates," Flenard said.

Despite this, he still plans on voting.

"I'll be voting for Kamala Harris," he said.

Federica Roo, another Penn State student, also plans on voting despite having issues with both candidates.

"I'm going to be totally honest, I don't think either of the candidates are the perfect candidate for what our country needs," Roo said. "I'm voting for Trump."

Page Goldberg, another Penn State student, told me she recently registered to vote as a Republican but plans to vote for Harris.

"Two of my roommates are voting for Trump. The other two are voting for Kamala. We can't even talk about it in the apartment. It's such a divide," she said. "I really don't like either candidate, honestly. I think there are issues with both of them but I think that Kamala, what she stands for and her agenda that she has talked about has resonated with me a lot more than Donald Trump's."

Goldberg told me climate change, the economy and abortion are among the issues that matter to her the most.

"I personally believe the government should not have control over a female's body and everyone should be entitled to their own opinion," she said. "Everyone should have that choice whether you are pro-life or not I think you should have that choice and make that decision for yourself. I don't think a government official should make the decision for you."

Hunter Steach is active with Penn State's college Republicans. He told me the abortion issue often comes up as does the issue of age.

"It's hard. It's an issue I don't think our party has necessary done a good job on," Steach said.

Steach told me he and his fellow Republicans try to focus on other issues, including the border and the economy.

"Some of us want a younger candidate," he said. "But we care about the policies and we know he did it effectively the first time and he'll do it again."

Democrats have had success in Centre County, Pennsylvania, in recent years. Joe Biden won the county in 2020 by a bigger margin than both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also won the county by 17 points in 2022. That’s whereI spoke with the governor after he wrapped up an event at a state park. 

“First off, kudos to you and NBC10 for putting the miles on and getting all around our commonwealth,” Shapiro said with a smile. 

I asked the governor if he thinks Harris’ message is getting through to Pennsylvanians. 

“I think the Vice President’s doing a really good job of getting out all across Pennsylvania and making sure people know what she stands for and showing up in communities that are often times ignored and forgotten,” Shapiro said. 

My conversation with the governor occurred the same day Donald Trump held two rallies in Pennsylvania. I also spoke virtually with the former president’s son, Eric Trump. 

“Listen, Pennsylvania has always been a battleground state and it’s a critical state and I really believe if we win Pennsylvania, we win the entire country,” Eric Trump told me. 

Donald Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016 but lost it in 2020. 

“Where do you think he has the opportunity to pick up votes in Pennsylvania?” I asked. 

“I don’t think it’s about where,” Eric Trump replied. “He has. The Hispanic vote has never been so favorable, ever. By leaps and bounds. An incredible group of people who have just swung in one direction in a massive way.”

As for Harris, voters are still learning about her positions and how they may differ from what she said during her previous run for the White House in 2020. One of those issues is fracking. In 2020, Harris said she supported a ban on fracking. In her current campaign, however, she has said she will not ban fracking.

“Why should people believe she’s any different than she was then?” I asked Gov. Shapiro. 

“Well let’s take the first example you raised on fracking,” he replied. “She has made clear that she supports natural gas exploration and the natural gas industry, here in Pennsylvania.” 

“I talked to somebody the other day who says they don’t believe her stance right now,” I said, in reference to my interview with Mark Caskey, the CEO and founder of Steel Nation, earlier in the week in Pittsburgh. 

“Well, let me address your question. I think it’s a really fair question,” Shapiro said. “Yeah, Vice President Harris said back in 2019 that she was against fracking. She is for it now. And I think the reason for that is because she listens to Pennsylvanians.”

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024 - Erie County, Pennsylvania

In Erie County, the divisions are sometimes visible on the street. Yet some splits aren't so obvious. That was the case when I spoke with Robin Westcott and her friend Dawn Vanscoter.

"My husband's family is three and three," Westcott said. "Three for Kamala and three for Trump. It got very ugly a few weeks ago. I had to unfriend my sister-in-law and brother-in-law."

Westcott is voting for Kamala Harris while Vanscoter is voting for Trump. The neighbors and friends both posted visible yard signs for their candidates.

Vanscoter told me she never tries to convince Westcott to be a conservative. Westcott has made an attempt to convince Vanscoter to come to her side of the political aisle, however.

"I try," Westcott said. "I try to at least let her see what's happening."

Vanscoter owns the Lawrence Park Diner in Erie County. It's a local landmark with regular customers and tight quarters.

"When I bought this restaurant three years ago, orange juice was $2.50 a gallon," Vanscoter said. "It's almost 9 now."

Vanscoter said there are political conversations that often occur at her business.

"So the previous owners actually took out the televisions because of the political conversations," Vanscoter said. "It's just the regulars who talk about politics and when they fight and they disagree, they just laugh it off and one buys the other one coffee and the next day it's totally different."

I spoke with one of Vanscoter's customers, David Alfieri, who was wearing a MAGA hat.

"Yes, I am voting for former President Trump," Alfieri, who has lived in Erie County for more than 30 years, told me. "I voted for him the other two times. I like his policies. I like the way he conducts himself. Is he rough around the edges? Absolutely. But people listen to him. The good guys and the bad guys listen to him so that's what I like."

Erie County is an important part of Pennsylvania. In the past, it went for Barack Obama in 2012, then Donald Trump in 2016 and then Joe Biden in 2020.

Conrad Kubaney, an Erie, Pennsylvania, resident who is working to elect Kamala Harris, described it as a "very blue collar city."

"I think her messaging has been on point," he said. "I think it's full of compassion. It's full of empathy. I think it's common sense economic policy that can pretty much help all of us out."

Both Harris and Trump are looking to turn out voters in Erie.

"I'm much more involved this time because I truly believe we need him back in the office. We need him back leading our country," Michele Chereson, a Trump volunteer, told me. "I was confident last time in 2020 and I was very shocked that we didn't win. However, they say it was very close. I can accept that. I do not think it's close this time. I truly believe that we are ahead."

Kubaney is confident in his candidate as well.

"I think people want a return to normalcy and they want a fair deal. I almost see this becoming like a new deal 2.0," Kubaney said. "I'm definitely not a doomer. Would I bet my house on it? I don't feel that strongly yet. But I do feel good about it. I do feel very, very good about it."

Sunday, Oct. 6, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

It was football Sunday in Pennsylvania. But instead of bleeding green, fans in Pittsburgh displayed their black and gold as the Steelers took on the Dallas Cowboys in a primetime matchup. Before the game, I spoke with Pittsburgh residents about the overall mood in the city in regards to the presidential election.

"To my thinking, it's way closer than it should be," Jeff Clawson, a retired union member, said. "I think we're still leaning blue. Harris. But there's a lot of people who like Trump."

Clawson told me the three issues he cares the most about are how the candidates feel about unions, women's rights and LGBTQ rights. With that in mind, he said he supports Kamala Harris.

Similarly to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the county it sits in, Allegheny, are a big source of Democratic votes. Unlike Philadelphia, however, Pittsburgh is surrounded by more Republican areas. According to voter registration data, the area surrounding Pittsburgh -- including Butler -- has turned redder since 2020.

Jim Adamski lives south of Pittsburgh in Cecil, Washington County. He told me he supports Donald Trump and the border as well as the economy are the biggest issues for him during the election season.

"I just think that our country is going in the wrong direction. Everything that we're doing, I'm definitely worse off than I was three and a half years ago," Adamski said. "My money doesn't go as far as it used to."

I also traveled to Aliquippa, Beaver County, where I once again spoke with Mayor Dwan Walker who became a breakout star during the Democratic National Convention thanks to his spirited statements during the ceremonial roll call.

Mayor Walker told me Aliquippa was the "heart of steel country." During our conversation, he showed me a steel mill which had closed in the 1980s. He also spoke about the significance of his county in the presidential race.

"If the whole state is a battleground, Beaver County is a battleground. Absolute battleground because of what we used to be," he said.

Beaver County once had more Democrats than Republicans. That's changed over the years, however.

"I think people's level of politics changed," Walker said. "Then you had a candidate in '16 who said things that everybody thought about. And when Donald Trump came in he said things that people thought."

With less than a month to go before Election Day, Walker told me he's lobbying to get the Democratic ticket to visit his area.

"Beaver County could change the tide," he said. "Everybody worries about Philly and Pittsburgh and maybe occasionally Erie but there are communities in between there and Harrisburg and still are. And Williamsport and all these places in between that matter."

During my time in the Pittsburgh-area, I also spoke with Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) who happened to be in the same area.

"So one thing that we don't recognize all the time in Philly is Pennsylvania is a huge state," she said. "Seventy-five percent of our state is rural and there's so much more to our state that's different from our little bubble of Philadelphia and the suburbs."

An issue that's a much bigger deal in Pittsburgh than in Philadelphia is fracking.

"We're in Southpointe, just outside of Southpointe. Southpointe is what I call the Paris of Appalachia. It's the center of all the drilling companies. All the oil and gas companies," Mark Caskey, the CEO and founder of Steel Nation, said. "Where we stand right here in front of steel nation, about eight miles from the original Renz Well, which is the first hydraulically fractured well."

Caskey supports Trump and has even spoken at a rally.

"A return to where we were four plus years ago in energy policy, number one, which affects us all," Caskey said when asked what he's counting on from Trump.

During her previous run for president in 2020, Harris said she supported banning fracking. In her current campaign, however, she has said she will not ban fracking.

Caskey told NBC10 he doesn't believe Harris.

Jeff Nobers, the executive director of Pittsburgh Works Together -- a coalition of unions and businesses -- told NBC10 the political leanings of the energy industry depend on the specific area.

"I think people that work in what I would call some of the more traditional industries, especially energy industries, even some manufacturing industries, wouldn't feel as secure with Vice President Harris as they would with former President Trump," Nobers said. "But I also think those that are in more tech-oriented or if you want to call them the future industries, probably lean towards Vice President Harris."

Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 - Butler, Pennsylvania

Tonight, former President Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, taking the stage 12 weeks after an assassination attempt on his life that injured him and two others, killed one of his supporters and shook the entire country. 

“Exactly twelve weeks ago this evening, on this very ground, a coldblooded assassin aimed to silence me and to silence the greatest movement, MAGA, in the history of our country. MAGA,” Trump said. 

The rally honored Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief who was killed in the shooting back on July 13, 2024. 

At Saturday’s event – which took place at the Butler Farm Show – there were reminders of the July 13 rally, including t-shirts as well as a statue that Bill Secunda made out of nails. 

“Four hundred pounds, probably four thousand nails and probably three months worth of work,” Secunda said. “I even had to add the little nip on his ear there.”

Jacob Houk of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, also attended Saturday’s event after attending the July rally. 

“Basically, the reason why I’m coming back here is just because I feel like it was important for him to come back and rally in this area,” Houk said. “And plus that was my first rally ever so it was terrible. It was a terrible first experience to ever have to deal with.” 

Houk said he felt “great” about returning to Butler. 

“I feel great. I mean, honestly, I feel more secure today,” Houk said. 

Some of the security precautions were visible and Trump himself spoke behind a bulletproof glass. 

The Secret Service was heavily scrutinized after the assassination attempt on Trump. They now say they’ve made “comprehensive changes and enhancements to our communications, capabilities, resourcing and protective operations.”

Billionaire Elon Musk also joined Trump at the rally. 

“We had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who was fist pumping after getting shot,” Musk said, drawing cheers from the crowd. “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Saturday’s rally occurred a little more than a month before election day in a state that could be critical to the outcome. 

"Twelve weeks ago we all took a bullet for America,” Trump said. “And all we are all asking is that everyone goes out and votes.” 

One man attending the rally told me he was in Butler back in the summer with his wife. She didn’t return with him today. He said he didn’t like being around large crowds after that experience.