The Witness Chronicles, August 15, 2024

Kamala, don’t get bogged down in the weeds

Photo by Obi - @pixel8propix on Unsplash

Are You a High Information Voter? You’re in the Minority. That’s OK

It’s a question Kamala Harris needs to keep front and center

There’s been a lot of crying on the right that Harris has no policies or that they are dangerously radical, whatever that means. Former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill warns on MSNBC of a trap that Democrats are always tempted by- the temptation to get down into the weeds of policy, often deflating enthusiasm with too many details.

She suggested the Harris/Walz campaign should post detailed policy on their site and leave it there for high information voters to go through. When on the campaign trail, especially when you have the momentum they have, keep to the simple messages, the ones that get voters stirred up.

McCaskill’s insight is that while there are high information voters (I’m one), they are the minority. This is not to imply that the other voters are stupid or lazy. Instead, like a lot of us, they respond to the strong upbeat basic messages that have worked so well for Harris and Walz so far.

We vote emotionally, first and foremost. That's what got Trump elected in 2016. He went for the throat, stirring up fear and anger combined with mocking humor, while policy wonk Hilary Clinton tried to bury him with facts, boring and confusing voters and contributing to her image as a privileged intellectual northeastern liberal.

It worked and it’s still his playbook, but this is not 2016 or 2020. We want excitement, energy, a positive and inclusive message, and the ability to attack and defend without losing a sense of humor.

Trump once used his warped sense of humor, akin to a schoolyard bully, effectively the first time around, but we no longer see that side of Trump, just the insults, lies, and these days, increasing fear. A Vanity Fair political writer wrote today about how some Trump aides fear he may be unintentionally saying and doing things to sabotage his own success.

It may be PTSD. After all, the guy just missed getting his head blown off by a crazed assassin. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t be too excited about getting in front of huge chaotic crowds, filled with amped up people, after that.

Meanwhile Kamala is a smiling, glowing speaker offering a positive view of the future to huge crowds of happy people. The comparison is striking and lot of savvy Republicans know it and are constantly unsuccessfully urging Trump to tone it down. The racism and the stupid insults. Instead he is doubling down.

It doesn’t help that his running mate, J.D. Vance, is unpopular and viewed as a mean attack dog with no sense of humor. His numbers have plummeted as the public gets to know him.

I admit to doing a deep dive daily on all this. And in my writing I try to digest it and pull out the basic messages I’m hearing. I don’t often cite sources because I don’t use information that I can’t verify through the work of multiple respected journalists and my readers can find the back stories easily if they want.

At least that’s my goal. Most voters have busy lives and want their information in digestible bits. Kamala and her team need to keep this front and center in their messaging and not make the classic Democrat mistake of over complicating things.

You know, Keep It Simple Stupid, KISS. It's the oldest lesson in the political playbook. Know the facts, use them when you need to, but stick to a forward looking perspective. And keep smiling and talking like a human.

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