20 Oct 2024

The US county that picks presidents

From Sunday Morning, 8:50 am on 20 October 2024

Erie County, in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania, is what election watchers call a "boomerang county". In recent elections it boomeranged Democrats to Republicans going for former President Barack Obama twice, then former President Donald Trump in 2016, and narrowly for President Biden in 2020.

Can it predict what will happen this year? Jim talks to a local resident, Bekah Mook.

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 14: Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at Erie Insurance Arena on October 14, 2024 in Erie, Pennsylvania. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was scheduled to attend the evening event with Harris, who is stumping in this bellwether county of a battleground state in which a recent New York Times/Siena College poll shows her leading, but within the margin of error. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Photo: MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO