Progressive Coalition launches campaign for rural voters

The agenda for an effort to reach voters in 72 “critical” rural counties includes universal healthcare, improving public education, countering corporate power, and economic justice for farmers, according to a report.  A coalition of rural community organizing groups has launched a campaign to educate rural voters in 72 counties they say are key to winning federal elections. The groups, which have united around a theme of “progressive populism,” will work in 10 states, including swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa.  The counties are primarily ones where Donald Trump won a majority of votes in 2016 – some by as much as 10 points. Special focus will be on 28 “pivot counties” – where a majority voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but which moved into the Trump column in 2016. The coalition will focus on health care for all, better public education, corporate accountability, a stronger working class and economic justice for family farmers. The organizing strategy will speak against corporate greed, hate and white supremacy, according to the report.