Let’s talk macro level political strategy here for a second.
With the 2024 political cycle being full of exceptions, one-offs, first-evers etc, it can be easy to lose sight of what is going on strategically. The DNC is a pretty stark reminder of what the core strategy Harris is running with. The overarching theme is goading Trump, and the…
Let’s talk macro level political strategy here for a second.
With the 2024 political cycle being full of exceptions, one-offs, first-evers etc, it can be easy to lose sight of what is going on strategically. The DNC is a pretty stark reminder of what the core strategy Harris is running with. The overarching theme is goading Trump, and then give him as much rope as he wants to hang himself with. It’s not a strategy I’ve ever seen in a political campaign before, and is more often seen in TV legal dramas and such. The jury is still out on if it will be successful in the end, but it’s clear that niggling Trump on insecurities he has shown to lash out on is a concerted effort. Last night was a prime example of that with Harris filling the DNC stadium, and the RNC stadium at the same time. Playing ads on FNC specifically talking to Trump by name directly is another example. Even having Pritzker saying “…take it from an ACTUAL billionare” in his DNC speech was on this theme. This is all an untested campaign strategy by Harris, as to my knowledge no one has ever run a camapign based on baiting your opponent into making mistakes out of anger.
Trump’s strategy seems to be far more traditional. “I am better than them. My ideas are better than their ideas. My policies are better than their policies”. This is a far more utilized campaign strategy. This is the strategy Obama used in 2008, and the strategy Reagan used in 1980, both to great success. It’s also the strategy Trump was using against Biden earlier this year, and there has been no discernable pivot on the Trump side after the race was turned on its head 1 month ago today.
The Democrats' strategy is pretty straightforward - make everyone remember why they hate Trump.
It's a strategy that would only work in the type of situation we have now, where a highly polarizing, widely disliked former President is running to retake the office.
I don't think I agree. That was clearly Biden's strategy. A war of attrition where he banked on Trump being less popular than Biden and win that way. Harris has shifted markedly to goading Trump, and isn't banking on his residual unpopularity.
She's doing it more effectively than Biden was, but he tried. What she's changed is the focus on joy and freedom. That's a change in tone, not in policy or intent.
I think there's a pretty big difference between "The Harris campaign is goading Trump" and "the Harris campaign is only goading Trump." There are, as you describe, many instances of them mocking or goading Trump, but there's also a lot of focus on the policy contrast with respect to abortion, etc.
Both the negative campaigning (goading/mocking/defining Trump) and the policy campaigning (abortion, middle class, infrastructure, etc.) are subservient to the larger Obama-esque theme of hope and change implicit in "let's turn the page" and "we aren't going back."
Ultimately, the anti-Trump stuff helps to define a contrast between the same old strife and bad feelings, and an fresh and optimistic view forward.
I don't think this whole performance has just been about bating Trump. It doesn't take much to get his goat. It's been about presenting an energetic, youthful, strong, happy, but pissed off, counterpoint to Trump and Republicans. We've been puffing ourselves up and taking on the enemy to show that we aren't afraid, because voters back strength. As an aside, damn is Warnock a good speaker. And normally really can't stand preacher speak.
"Trump’s strategy seems to be far more traditional. “I am better than them. My ideas are better than their ideas. My policies are better than their policies”. "
You must be listening to some Trump impersonator, not the man himself, because what i hear him campaigning on is a blizzard of bullshit, bigotry, and personal grievances as a narcissist who inherited lots of money and property and thinks he's entitled to own everything and everybody and the least they can do is shut up and take it. You actually think he's campaigned on superior ideas and policies?
He's not very good at it, but yes I do believe that's his strategy. He frequently mentions "failed policies" "bad Bidem/Harris economy" "failed nursery policy" "there was peace in the middle easy when I was president". He is a horrible mouth piece to anyone who isn't his loyalist (which we shouldn't forget are 45% of the country), but that's what he is campaigning on.
You are way too credulous. Trump has not introduced any policies, other than not taxing tips and claiming that he will not sign a national abortion ban. He also claimed that the US hostages in Russia would only be freed when he came back to office, but that one just imploded. I suppose mass deportation of all (illegal) immigrants would be a policy issue he does avow. The one major policy document he (or at least many of his advisors) had a hand in was Project 2025, but he is running away fast from that one. I ask that you enumerate some of Trump's policies before leveling the claims you are making.
Which policies are being promoted by Trump, other than not taxing tips? It seems his main strategy is that things were good under him and bad under Biden, even though in certain areas (crime), that was not the case.
It doesn't have to be logical. Nor does he have to be specific. He plays into the fears/anxieties/anger of his base. He speaks in vague terms so he can be everything to everyone.
Let’s talk macro level political strategy here for a second.
With the 2024 political cycle being full of exceptions, one-offs, first-evers etc, it can be easy to lose sight of what is going on strategically. The DNC is a pretty stark reminder of what the core strategy Harris is running with. The overarching theme is goading Trump, and then give him as much rope as he wants to hang himself with. It’s not a strategy I’ve ever seen in a political campaign before, and is more often seen in TV legal dramas and such. The jury is still out on if it will be successful in the end, but it’s clear that niggling Trump on insecurities he has shown to lash out on is a concerted effort. Last night was a prime example of that with Harris filling the DNC stadium, and the RNC stadium at the same time. Playing ads on FNC specifically talking to Trump by name directly is another example. Even having Pritzker saying “…take it from an ACTUAL billionare” in his DNC speech was on this theme. This is all an untested campaign strategy by Harris, as to my knowledge no one has ever run a camapign based on baiting your opponent into making mistakes out of anger.
Trump’s strategy seems to be far more traditional. “I am better than them. My ideas are better than their ideas. My policies are better than their policies”. This is a far more utilized campaign strategy. This is the strategy Obama used in 2008, and the strategy Reagan used in 1980, both to great success. It’s also the strategy Trump was using against Biden earlier this year, and there has been no discernable pivot on the Trump side after the race was turned on its head 1 month ago today.
The Democrats' strategy is pretty straightforward - make everyone remember why they hate Trump.
It's a strategy that would only work in the type of situation we have now, where a highly polarizing, widely disliked former President is running to retake the office.
I don't think I agree. That was clearly Biden's strategy. A war of attrition where he banked on Trump being less popular than Biden and win that way. Harris has shifted markedly to goading Trump, and isn't banking on his residual unpopularity.
Yes, she is banking on that. She's banking on Trump's reaction to her goading reminding people of why they hate Trump. And so far, it's working.
She's doing it more effectively than Biden was, but he tried. What she's changed is the focus on joy and freedom. That's a change in tone, not in policy or intent.
I think there's a pretty big difference between "The Harris campaign is goading Trump" and "the Harris campaign is only goading Trump." There are, as you describe, many instances of them mocking or goading Trump, but there's also a lot of focus on the policy contrast with respect to abortion, etc.
I agree with this. The Trump trolling is dessert, but the campaign is serving a full-course meal.
Both the negative campaigning (goading/mocking/defining Trump) and the policy campaigning (abortion, middle class, infrastructure, etc.) are subservient to the larger Obama-esque theme of hope and change implicit in "let's turn the page" and "we aren't going back."
Ultimately, the anti-Trump stuff helps to define a contrast between the same old strife and bad feelings, and an fresh and optimistic view forward.
I don't think this whole performance has just been about bating Trump. It doesn't take much to get his goat. It's been about presenting an energetic, youthful, strong, happy, but pissed off, counterpoint to Trump and Republicans. We've been puffing ourselves up and taking on the enemy to show that we aren't afraid, because voters back strength. As an aside, damn is Warnock a good speaker. And normally really can't stand preacher speak.
So proud of my senator! He's a great speaker and a wonderful human being!
"Trump’s strategy seems to be far more traditional. “I am better than them. My ideas are better than their ideas. My policies are better than their policies”. "
You must be listening to some Trump impersonator, not the man himself, because what i hear him campaigning on is a blizzard of bullshit, bigotry, and personal grievances as a narcissist who inherited lots of money and property and thinks he's entitled to own everything and everybody and the least they can do is shut up and take it. You actually think he's campaigned on superior ideas and policies?
He's not very good at it, but yes I do believe that's his strategy. He frequently mentions "failed policies" "bad Bidem/Harris economy" "failed nursery policy" "there was peace in the middle easy when I was president". He is a horrible mouth piece to anyone who isn't his loyalist (which we shouldn't forget are 45% of the country), but that's what he is campaigning on.
That's just part of his bullshit con game. He's not selling real policies; he's selling himself as the "biggest, best [everything]."
You are way too credulous. Trump has not introduced any policies, other than not taxing tips and claiming that he will not sign a national abortion ban. He also claimed that the US hostages in Russia would only be freed when he came back to office, but that one just imploded. I suppose mass deportation of all (illegal) immigrants would be a policy issue he does avow. The one major policy document he (or at least many of his advisors) had a hand in was Project 2025, but he is running away fast from that one. I ask that you enumerate some of Trump's policies before leveling the claims you are making.
Which policies are being promoted by Trump, other than not taxing tips? It seems his main strategy is that things were good under him and bad under Biden, even though in certain areas (crime), that was not the case.
It doesn't have to be logical. Nor does he have to be specific. He plays into the fears/anxieties/anger of his base. He speaks in vague terms so he can be everything to everyone.
That's the opposite of a policy argument.
Thank you!