Voting groups that got a boost from Harris' candidacy are still working to persuade voters of color

WASHINGTON (AP) — Left-leaning voter engagement groups that saw a surge in support and energy after Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the Democrats' White House nominee are aligning with a key pillar of her campaign in the final stretch before Election Day — trying to turn out uncommitted voters of color.

But many of those groups are finding they still have much work to do to introduce Harris and her policies. The challenges reflect Harris' late campaign start, as well as attempts to overcome the earlier lack of enthusiasm for a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump. They also reflect inroads that Republicans have been trying to make in particular with Black and Latino voters.

Activists with Siembra NC, a grassroots organization that focuses on Latino communities in North Carolina, found many potential voters are willing to vote in downballot races for state and local offices while leaving the top of the ticket blank. Their feeling is that the closer-to-home races affect their daily lives, while neither Trump nor Harris addresses all their desires in a presidential candidate.

“What we’ve had to do is a lot of conversations around trust-building, and that takes time,” said Kelly Morales, the group’s co-director. “It’s really about helping folks see that not casting a vote is also a political decision.”