Strategies Create Realities
In these moments after the election I read a lot of stunned comments — why would so many people love Donald Trump so much? I disagree. In fact a majority of Americans does not think favourably about Donald Trump. Even conservative voters are quite sober about his intellect or integrity, seeing him as erratic and egoistic. Trump did not come from heaven nor hell. The reality of his presidency is a product of strategy. DNC strategy. Failed strategy. In candidate, campaign and culture.
Strategy Fail #1 — Candidate (s)
Staying with Joe Biden instead of building up a good alternative was disastrous. Biden needed to almost lose consciousness live on TV before the party reacted. The election was in deep trouble by then, but could have been saved with the right pick. Kamala Harris? A great woman who I admire and whose relentless energy facing a gigantic task was astonishing. But she was politically too close to Joe Biden and came with some baggage from her uninspired Vice Presidency. She also was a daring bet: is the US as a nation ready to elect a female president? Or more focused: Are the decisive voters ready to do this? Economically challenged rural people in swing states?
Strategy Fail #2 — Campaign
It was clear that in a deeply polarized society many had made up their minds. A few undecided voters in a few swing states would make the difference. Let’s call this difference Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was concerned about jobs, about inflation, house prices, industry decline, about all the things that are linked to the feeling that their world is not improving but crumbling. ‘It’s the economy, stupid!’ is the ground rule in every campaigning rulebook since Bill Clintons 1992 successful bid. But Kamala Harris lost her copy. Sure, reproductive rights are also an important topic and something worth fighting for. But Pennsylvania had different priorities. One could have seen that, stupid!
Strategy Fail #3 — Culture
Looking at the limited success of progressive policies and politicians you wonder why Pennsylvania seems to vote against their own interests. Democrats want better for the people but the people ignorantly turn their back? This phenomenon deserves a long paper about American identity and society. But the simple truth every observer agrees on: progressive politicians are seen as elitist and out of touch. Let’s call these ‘Penthouse’. To be fair, Kamala Harris left the penthouse and even talked to Fox News. But: too little, too late. The cultural divide was too wide for this gesture to be effective.
The picture that comes to mind is the VOGUE cover of Kamala Harris contrasting with Donald Trump serving fries at McDonalds.
McDonalds feeds Pennsylvania. VOGUE decorates the coffee tables of Penthouse. That's as disconnected as it gets.
Penthouse vs. Pennsylvania. The outcome was inevitable.
This for me is the tragic of the 2024 presidential election: The country did not want Donald Trump. But the alternative failed to convince.
The reality of a second Trump presidency is the creation of Democratic strategies.
Please, tell me what you think!