Kamala Harris, once the Vice President, experienced a moment of sheer carelessness when she stumbled through a question regarding how she might differ in her political approach from ex-President Joe Biden. The scene was captured as her deputy campaign manager despaired at her nebulous response. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump showcased his openness by directly answering press calls on his cell phone. Prior to his exit from the campaign, Biden’s thoughts were muddled due to his son Hunter’s looming legal quandaries. These situations unfolded in a previous discussion.
Post-Biden’s retreat from the race on July 21, 2024, Harris’ campaign appeared to gain some traction, with polling numbers improving, leading to an optimistic buzz. Alas, during this same period, Trump was in a relatively sour mood. His team persuaded him to tackle the topic of inflation, convinced that this focus would ensure Harris’ numbers plummeted.
Drawing upon her own statements, Trump’s campaign prepared a strategy to frame her image. A 2019 video where she voiced support for taxpayer-funded gender transitions for prison inmates was utilized to shift public opinion. The impact of these comments echoed in focus groups across the country, immediately influencing voters.
The Trump campaign began launching strongly worded ads that juxtaposed Kamala’s support of gender transition with his direct support for the people, portraying her as someone concerned more about niche issues than common folk. This message resonated immensely, providing wind in Trump’s campaign sails.
This was not the only PR calamity Harris faced. During a conversation on a popular TV show, ‘The View’, she was asked what she would do differently than Biden if she held the reins. Harris blundered through her reply with an unconvincing ‘There is not a thing that comes to mind.’ Despite her team coaching her on a much stronger rebuttal, her failure to deliver was palpable.
An ill-considered request by an aide to redo the TV question fell flat. With each gaffe, Trump’s campaign solidified its own narrative. According to Dawsey, they explored what could be done to mitigate the disasters, yet no satisfactory resolution came forth.
As Harris’ campaign struggled to effectively counter these incidences with compelling narratives of their own, Trump continued to surge ahead with vigor and determination. Harris’ team engaged in extensive efforts to delineate her political views from Biden’s, but their endeavors were often thwarted by her refusal to appear disloyal to Biden, echoing a popularity argument based on Biden’s supporters in Pennsylvania.
Democrats brushed aside Trump’s boastful allegations that he could garner more Black voters’ support than any other GOP candidate in history. However, Trump’s campaign which ran professionally, notably focusing on the economy and inflation, did remarkably well especially with Black and Latino males.
Early in the 2024 presidential race, Trump camouflaged his controversies with smart strategic decisions. The campaign tactfully pivoted their attention to securing support from male voters and those who only become politically active when Trump’s name is on the docket.
Simultaneously, the indictments against Trump solidified his base within the Republican party. Comfortably ensconced in his Mar-A-Lago Club, he expressed astonishment at the speed with which he received Republican voters’ backing and effectively leveraged the legal proceedings to his advantage.
Contrasting Trump’s robust response to the attempted assassination in July 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania, Biden’s feeble debate presentation several weeks prior showcased a clear difference. An observer commented on the jarring juxtaposition of Biden’s lacksidasical debate demeanor with Trump’s physical assertion at Butler, effectively seizing the narrative.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles cast a long, heavy shadow over President Biden. June 2024 was set to be of significant importance for Biden, with foreign trips, a major fundraiser and a crucial debate on the agenda. Prior to this, however, he candidly admitted to a close associate that his primary concern was preventing his son from being convicted; at one stage, he was even willing to testify in court.
After the election, a moment occurred which spoke volumes of the relationship between Biden and Trump. When the defeated Biden extended an invitation to Trump to visit the White House, Trump, instead of gloating, offered an insightful response, musing that had life circumstances been different, they could have been friends who would enjoy a game of golf together.
The post Harris Stumbles while Trump Shines: A Tale of Two Campaigns appeared first on Real News Now.
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