Every week, we take a few moments to respond to some of your calls to our toll-free Scripps News Viewer Hotline.
This week, we were thrilled to hear your feedback about our “Midnight Van to Georgia.” Scripps News political director Andrew Rafferty, deputy director Joe St. George, and White House correspondent Serena Marshall took you on the campaign trail to follow the candidates and connect with the voters they are courting in the lead-up to last night’s presidential debate.
Click below to listen to what voters had to say when the Scripps News “Midnight Van to Georgia” visited their towns:
However, some of you expressed a desire for more stops to be made. Jerry from South Carolina inquired:
“Yes, my name is Jerry Harville. I live in West Columbia, South Carolina, and I was wondering why South Carolina has been overlooked. It seems like we don’t exist. Your famous van is traveling from Washington [D.C.] to Atlanta, and they are discussing going everywhere but South Carolina. Can you clarify why?”
While one team member did advocate for a stop in South Carolina – where his mother resides – the team had to cover the entire 860-mile route in three days, necessitating limited and strategic stops. This involved coordinating with scheduled campaign events and storylines.
The route passed through areas anticipated to be closely monitored leading up to the November election – including crucial counties and battleground states like North Carolina and Georgia. Moreover, the team had to reach Atlanta by Thursday for the initial presidential debate of 2024.
Even beyond campaign season, we take pleasure in sharing stories from often overlooked places.
Stories from across Scripps country:
Scripps news reaches over 90% of American households, and we are committed to delivering pertinent news to all. While the van is currently parked, we will continue to offer extensive coverage of national, state, and local races through November and beyond. After all, the route to the White House runs through Scripps country, where Scripps News journalists have resided and operated for decades.
We are eager to hear from you. Feel free to leave us a message anytime on our toll-free Scripps News Viewer Hotline at 1-833-4-Scripps.
