Shapiro on Harris’s chances in Pennsylvania: 'Every election is close'

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said Sunday that "every election is close in" his home state when asked about Vice President Harris's chances of winning it.

“How likely is it at this point that Kamala Harris will win Pennsylvania?” CNN anchor Dana Bash asked Shapiro on “State of the Union.”

“Every election is close in Pennsylvania. 2016 was about 44,000 votes. 2020 was 80,000 votes. A point or less decided each of those elections,” Shapiro responded. 

“I fully expect this to be a close election. I will tell you, I think the vice president’s got some real wind at her back. And, you know, what I'm taking note of, is in communities that are often ignored and left behind, Kamala Harris is showing up.”

Harris is barely leading former President Trump in Pennsylvania in an average of state-based polls from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, with 48.1 percent support to the former president’s 47.7 percent. Pennsylvania is one of a handful of important swing states Harris might have to clinch to secure the presidency for herself.

“So I'm really hopeful, I'm really optimistic, but [it's going to be] close here in the Keystone State,” Shapiro said.

Harris and Trump debated in Philadelphia last week in what many saw as a positive night for the vice president. In a CNN flash poll, 63 percent of registered voters said Harris performed better on the debate stage, with only about 37 percent saying the same of the former president.

The Hill has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.