At last week’s Democratic National Convention, a word that should have been mentioned a lot — “climate,” the top issue for a large portion of the party’s voters — was barely visible in action. [emphasis, links added]
If you're wondering why, there's a one-word answer: Pennsylvania.
“I think what they're worried about is [Kamala Harris] Taking a hard line on climate, even if it aligns with Biden's, would make her look too progressive“, Kevin Book, managing director of Clearview Energy Partners, told reporters.
“This is a divisive issue and they need both sides to win Pennsylvania as much as possible.”
For Democrats, talking about climate and its flipside — fracking — is now a lose-lose proposition.
Harris could lose Pennsylvania if she pursues anti-carbon policies.
If she supports fracking, she risks alienating young climate voters.
But Penn State is clearly the bigger prize.
Harris expressed support for a ban on fracking in her 2019 campaign statement and the Biden-Harris administration is waging a war on fossil fuels. Pennsylvania and many others have reason to fear that a Harris presidency would take over Biden's job and work to destroy the U.S. oil and gas industry.
In Pennsylvania, fracking is extremely profitable and therefore extremely popular. In 2022, the industry employed 121,000 Pennsylvanians with an average salary of $97,000, according to FTI Consulting.
Fracking also generated $3.2 billion in state and local tax revenue that year and paid more than $6 billion in royalties to landowners.
Talk of banning fracking would spread like a lead balloon in Pennsylvania — Harris chose anti-fracking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over pro-fracking Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro as running mate, which may have jittered the Keystone State's nerves.
A spokesperson for Harris said she no longer supports a fracking ban.
But since she didn't make any direct statements, she didn't convince anyone.
Unusually, climate was not mentioned in any significant way at the conference, and climate activists did not stage any protests.
The mainstream media, usually hysterical about climate issues, has also not highlighted the issue with its usual enthusiasm. Imagine the dilemma Harris would face if asked to comment.
There is an answer to this puzzle too.
“I'm not worried,” said Washington Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee.
Inslee told reporters last week that it was more important for Harris to distinguish herself from former President Trump than to delve into the “substance of policy.”
Inslee's money quotes: “I have every confidence that when she can bring about positive change, she will.”
That's it.
Democrats don’t have to say a word to know what Senate Green New Deal co-sponsor Harris will do on climate if she wins.
She will continue to wage war on fossil fuels, including efforts to ban fracking.
During a little-known meeting of the Democratic National Convention’s Environment and Climate Crisis Committee, Harris climate adviser Ike Irby says candidate has pledged to take 'bold action' on climate and is “Fully committed” to building on what the Biden-Harris administration has already accomplished.
The Democratic goal, then, is simply to get her elected — and Harris would have a greater chance of winning if she stays silent on climate and fracking.
The climate industry, also eager to get its share of the $1.2 trillion in climate spending in the Inflation Reduction Act, is placing its bets on Harris.
She expects to raise $5 million from climate tech venture capitalists at a fundraiser during New York's Climate Week in September. Climate advocacy groups are launching a $55 million ad campaign for Harris.
So even though she's not talking about climate, the climate industry is talking about she.
Will her strategy work?
Remember, a poll ahead of the July 2022 midterm elections showed that Only 1% of likely voters say climate is a top priority.
As Democratic pollster David Schor said in 2021, it's a topic that appeals to “weird, very liberal white people.”
While queer white leftists are an important constituency for Harris, their numbers may not be enough to win Pennsylvania or the election.
Pictured above, Harris gushes about electric school buses via Sky News/YouTube screenshot
To read more, visit the New York Post
