Podcast Summary
Defining Kamala Harris: Both Democrats and Republicans are working to shape the public's perception of Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate, with the Democrats still trying to fully understand her vision for the future.
The past week in the presidential campaign season was considered a "solid five" on a scale of excitement, falling between normal and uneventful. Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, noted that while the Republicans have struggled to define Kamala Harris, it's still a work in progress for the Democrats to fully understand who she is and what her vision for the future is as a presidential candidate. The conversation between Ryan Knudson and Molly Ball also touched on the comparison of the past week to previous ones in the campaign season, with July being much more eventful. Overall, the race to define Kamala Harris is ongoing, and both parties are trying to shape the public's perception of her.
Harris' momentum and Democrats' enthusiasm: Kamala Harris' campaign is gaining momentum, with her recent rally in Atlanta drawing large crowds and genuine enthusiasm from Democrats, marking a shift from lackluster feelings towards Joe Biden.
Kamala Harris' campaign is gaining momentum, with her recent rally in Atlanta drawing large crowds and generating excitement. While she benefits from being seen as an alternative to Joe Biden, there is also genuine enthusiasm for her as a candidate, marking a shift in Democrats' feelings towards their party's nominee. Harris' messaging has focused on the theme of freedom, resonating with Democrats and abortion rights activists, and tapping into broader sentiments of patriotism and liberty. After just 12 days, Harris is already making Democrats feel happy about their candidate, a significant change from the lackluster enthusiasm for Biden.
Abrams' messaging: Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams is positioning herself as a relatable, forward-thinking candidate who contrasts her background with Trump's and emphasizes the need to move forward from past policies and perceived Republican weirdness.
Democratic presidential candidate Stacey Abrams is positioning herself as the candidate of the future, contrasting her background as a prosecutor with Donald Trump's status as a convicted felon. Abrams is also emphasizing the need to move forward, distancing herself from past failed policies and Republican candidates' perceived weirdness. This messaging taps into her status as a younger candidate and the Democratic Party's desire for new leadership. The Democrats' messaging against the Republicans is being improvised due to the quick assembly of the campaign, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's comment about Republicans being "weird" sparking a wider narrative. Overall, Abrams is attempting to position herself as a relatable, forward-thinking candidate who can lead the country into a new age.
Harris's approach to Trump: Kamala Harris aims to make Trump seem less intimidating and more laughable by adopting a lighthearted tone during debates and announcing policy changes to moderate her stance or connect with voters.
During the Democratic primary debate, Kamala Harris adopted a more lighthearted and dismissive tone towards former President Trump, aiming to make him seem less intimidating and more laughable to voters. This shift in approach was intended to reduce the fear factor surrounding Trump and encourage people to dismiss him instead. Additionally, Harris has recently announced some policy changes, such as no longer supporting a ban on fracking and abandoning her previous stance on single-payer healthcare. These shifts could be seen as an attempt to moderate her stance or as a response to her less-known status on the national stage. Overall, Harris's new approach to Trump and her policy changes highlight her need to articulate a clear policy vision and connect with voters in a more relatable way.
Harris's authenticity and consistency: The Trump campaign criticized Kamala Harris for being a 'phony' and a 'flip-flopper' with no clear ideological core. Harris has yet to engage with tough questions from diverse audiences, raising doubts about her authenticity and consistency as a potential president.
During a recent interview, the Trump campaign criticized Kamala Harris for being a "phony" and a "flip-flopper" with no clear ideological core. Trump himself made controversial comments about Harris's racial identity during an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists Conference. While Trump's attendance at the conference was seen as a good opportunity for candidates to engage with tough questions and diverse audiences, Harris has yet to do so. The criticism against Harris raises questions about her authenticity and consistency, making it difficult for voters to know what to expect from her as a potential president. Trump's comments about Harris's racial identity have been criticized for being divisive and insensitive. It remains to be seen how Harris will respond to these attacks and whether she will engage with tough questions from diverse audiences.
Trump's tactics: Trump's controversial comments about Kamala Harris' identity were used to portray her as a phony, but this tactic has not won him widespread support
Donald Trump's pattern of creating controversies and basking in negative attention was on full display during his recent comments about Kamala Harris' identity. Despite her clear identification as both black and Indian American, Trump suggested she was not authentic in her expressions of her identities. This idea, which many Americans find deeply bizarre, was used by Trump and his supporters to portray Harris as a phony and untrustworthy shapeshifter. This tactic, which has been a staple of Trump's campaign since 2016, generates negative attention but ultimately seems to benefit him by fueling his campaign. It's important to remember that Trump's controversial behavior has not won him widespread support, as evidenced by his one election victory and his unpopularity throughout his presidency.
Perception of Female Candidates: Political landscape is evolving, being a woman is no longer a disadvantage in politics, and the electorate's attitude towards female candidates may have shifted
While former President Trump's divisive rhetoric and controversial statements may grab headlines and attention, it's unclear who he's winning over with these tactics. Many Republicans feel it's unproductive, and Democrats remain opposed. As for the possibility of a female president, the last time a woman ran for the highest office was in 2016 when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump. However, recent reporting suggests that the electorate's attitude towards female candidates may have shifted, with liberal democratic women like Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris facing less pressure to prove their electability compared to past elections. Political scientists have found that being a woman is no longer a disadvantage in politics. Overall, the political landscape continues to evolve, and how Americans perceive and vote for candidates based on gender remains an intriguing question.
2024 Presidential Election and Gender: Despite women's comparable performance in elections to men, Trump's 2024 campaign focuses on appealing to working-class men and traditional gender roles, attracting some women with similar views.
Despite widespread belief among some that women face systematic disadvantages in elections due to bias from voters or media, evidence shows that women perform as well as men when they run. However, after Hillary Clinton's loss in 2016, some in the Democratic base held the belief that a woman couldn't win the presidency. The 2016 election saw unexpected support for Trump among white women. In the 2024 race, Trump's campaign is focusing on appealing to working-class men and traditional gender roles, which is not alienating all women but rather attracting those with similar views. The Republican National Convention in 2016, with its display of testosterone and traditional gender roles, signaled this strategy. The Trump campaign sees more political potential in this approach, and some conservative women are also galvanized by it.
Biden's VP pick implications: Biden's choice between Shapiro and Kelly reveals his assessment of swing states and moderates, and signals his campaign's direction and priorities
The upcoming Vice Presidential pick by the Biden campaign holds significant implications for their political strategy and the message they aim to send to voters. The candidates being mentioned most frequently, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Mark Kelly of Arizona, are seen as moderate figures with credibility in crucial swing states. The Biden campaign's choice between these two contenders will indicate their assessment of the electoral map and their best chances for victory. Additionally, Harris' selection could signify a commitment to appealing to moderate voters by choosing a younger, future-oriented running mate or someone with a moderate image. Overall, the Vice Presidential pick is an essential decision that will provide valuable insights into the Biden campaign's direction and priorities.
The Journal team: A diverse team of individuals, including Katherine Brewer, Maria Byrne, Jonathan Davis, Griffin Tanner, Nathan Singapore, Peter Leonard, So Wilding, Mary Mathis, Najra Jamal, and Kate Gallagher, collaborate to create The Journal podcast, ensuring accurate and engaging content for listeners
"The Journal" is a collaborative production between Spotify and The Wall Street Journal, created by a diverse team of individuals. This team includes Katherine Brewer, Maria Byrne, Jonathan Davis, and many others, with engineering support from Griffin Tanner, Nathan Singapore, and Peter Leonard. The show's theme music is by So Wilding, and additional music is provided by various artists. Fact-checking is conducted by Mary Mathis, Najra Jamal, and Kate Gallagher. The team's collective efforts bring this podcast to life, ensuring accurate and engaging content for listeners. Tune in every Monday for the latest episodes.