Unique campaign for 2024 US elections
Washington:
Although the candidates are the same as last time, the 2024 US presidential election promises to be unique in other ways – two people facing challenges unprecedented in the 235-year history of American democracy.
Joe Biden was already fueling misconceptions about his advanced years in 2020, but America’s oldest-ever president will have four more candles on his birthday cake this November.
And Donald Trump, who faced scrutiny over his conduct before and during his term in office during the last election, now has four criminal indictments to his name – unprecedented for an American president.
Biden, 81, can’t do much about his age, except occasionally joke and point out that his opponent is more than four years younger.
But Trump has tried to take advantage of his legal troubles — treating his court appearances as if they were campaign rallies, with expletive-filled, complaint-filled speeches in front of the media and cheering fans.
raised fist
These speeches aren’t exactly presidential — it’s hard to imagine Abraham Lincoln attacking judges or denouncing political opponents as “Marxist thugs” — but Trump’s loyal base is impressed by his penchant for incendiary rhetoric and personal grudges. Enjoys.
With jury selection in Trump’s trial for campaign finance violations beginning April 15 in New York, he’s likely to see more of it.
“He likes to be able to play the victim,” says Todd Belt, a politics professor at George Washington University.
The strategy comes at a cost. Trump has been burdened with hundreds of millions of dollars in legal costs — bills that he financed, in part, through campaign funds.
“It also takes them away from being able to do their MAGA rallies, to be able to go out in front of people,” Belt says.
The contest is not scheduled until the parties’ nominating conventions this summer, but since a rematch became inevitable a few weeks ago, Trump has held only one of his signature rallies, in Ohio.
His retreat is unusual for a showman who — despite his many verbal gaffes — enjoys walking in a stiff gait and pretending to be confused as he mocks Biden, and delights supporters in packed arenas. Does.
Trump has long denigrated his opponent as “Sleepy Joe,” but Team Biden has recently been returning the praise, humorously invoking Trumpisms to condemn “Low Energy Don.” Has been.
‘Human Relations’
Like Trump, Biden’s age could be a major obstacle as he works deeply to generate passion among voters in what is likely to be one of the longest, toughest campaigns in history.
But he has surrounded himself with allies who play to his strengths.
The Democrat has been attacking recent campaign events in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, all key swing states.
He has avoided the stadiums Trump loves in favor of smaller gatherings, sometimes away from television cameras, or low-key visits to small businesses — a barber shop with African-American customers, a Mexican restaurant. .
He would rather take part in conversations around the kitchen table – set-piece events carefully staged by aides who send flattering videos after the fact rather than allowing journalists in.
Biden, munching on hamburgers and milkshakes, will be talking about student loans with a group of graduate students or consoling a young man suffering from his childhood problem, a bad stammer.
Avoiding interviews with the national press, Biden prefers brief exchanges with local or community-based media, and rarely holds news conferences.
“Part of what makes President Biden a successful president is that he has a human connection with people. And that’s different than Trump’s mega rallies,” said Ben Wikler, head of the Democratic Party in the swing state of Wisconsin.
In recent weeks, Biden has begun to regain the lead in some surveys.
With their coffers well-filled, the Democrat campaign is increasing its TV ad buys and banking on a targeted approach.
But Biden’s most loyal supporters acknowledge he needs to step into the media spotlight if he is to reassure voters about his stamina and enthusiasm.
“They also know that they need to be there to overcome their image of not being particularly young and vigorous,” said Belt, the politics professor.
“I think they know they can’t keep it hidden.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)