How Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Are Fighting to be POTUS
As the election day is drawing closer, both running candidates are using different ways to promote their campaigns.
Kamala Harris: Use of Social Media
Vice President Kamala Harris has shaped her campaign around the theme of progressivism, mainly focusing on the reproductive rights, affordable healthcare, and student loan reform. She tends to appeal to the voters looking for more social change in the lenses of liberalism. This year, the Vice President has been using social media to target the younger audience for her campaigns. She has strayed away from traditional news outlets, as she explores other effective platform.
From my own experience of seeing it on social media, especially the TikTok platform, she has an account called Kamala HQ. In my opinion, this is very effective because the people who run the account incorporate relevant trends to Harris’s policies.
Harris also recently appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast, a show widely popular among younger listeners and especially influential with women. There, she addressed pressing issues like abortion rights and college affordability, appealing to many young woman who listen to the podcast. Her digital presence shows her commitment to engaging with voters beyond conventional political forums, a contrast to Trump’s reliance on massive rallies. By targeting issues close to the hearts of Millennials and Gen Z, it’s clear that she also has a lot of concerns for the younger generations as well. Newsweek NBC Boston
The choice of these media outlets is also strategic in sidestepping some of the tough, unscripted interviews Harris has typically avoided. Her team seems to be focusing on friendly, conversational formats that allow her to connect with audiences on a personal level. As political analyst Karlyn Bowman notes, this approach is designed to appeal to sympathetic female voters who view Harris as a champion of women’s rights and equality NBC Boston
Donald Trump: Returning to Rallies
President Donald Trump is sticking to the method that defined his previous campaigns: high-energy rallies. In 2024, he’s doubled down on these large events, especially in swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, states that could determine the outcome of the election. His rally-centric campaign strategy allows him to communicate directly with his supporters, bypassing traditional media and tapping into the loyalty of his base. Newsweek
Trump’s rallies are often unscripted, full of controversial statements and blunt critiques of Harris and her policies. For example, he’s used these events to question Harris's competence, calling her a "radical," and essentially her campaign as a threat to American values. Trump’s approach appears to be grounded in stirring up fear of the Democratic agenda, a tactic that has resonated with his supporters in previous campaigns and continues to draw large crowds. In the past, this tactic was known to be dangerous, perpetuating violence in some rallies. However, while his base is energized, some political analysts wonder whether this reliance on fear-based rhetoric is enough to expand his support beyond the core followers who already support him. UCL
Trump’s avoidance of mainstream interviews also marks a shift in strategy. By focusing on rally appearances and platforms like Fox News, Trump avoids potentially challenging questions and instead controls his narrative entirely. His refusal to engage in televised debates following his initial debate against Harris reflects this choice to double down on familiar channels rather than face potential criticism in less controlled environments. NBC Boston
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