What Americans heard about Trump heading into the campaign’s final week: fascism and french fries
3 min read
As the 2024 election campaign nears its conclusion, discussions surrounding former President Donald Trump have become increasingly polarized, with many Americans focusing on topics ranging from fascism to fast food. According to a recent CNN polling project called The Breakthrough, which examines the narratives shaping public perception of presidential candidates, Trump has dominated conversations, while Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered attention primarily through traditional campaign-related topics.
Conducted by SSRS and Verasight for a collaborative research team from CNN, Georgetown University, and the University of Michigan, the poll was conducted between October 25 and 28. Notably, it captured sentiments before Trump’s controversial rally at Madison Square Garden, which featured a racially insensitive joke about Puerto Rico.
The poll revealed that Americans were particularly intrigued by stories of Trump serving fries at McDonald’s and allegedly making remarks about Hitler’s generals. One survey participant humorously noted the oddity of the situation, writing, “He talked about Arnold Palmer’s penis size and worked at McDonald’s for a few hours. What a sentence!” Another respondent pointed out the inescapable nature of Trump’s media presence, stating, “When it comes to Donald Trump, you can’t tune him or his ideas off.”
The narratives surrounding Trump varied significantly along partisan lines. Republicans showed greater interest in the McDonald’s event and Trump’s recent interview with Joe Rogan, while Democrats highlighted concerns over democracy and Trump’s rhetoric. One independent voter noted, “Numerous former officers in the 2016-2020 Trump administration are sounding alarms that Trump will dismantle democracy if he’s elected.” This dual focus on democracy versus entertainment illustrates the stark contrast in how different political groups perceive Trump’s candidacy.
This focus on democracy is significant; it emerged as the second-most discussed topic related to Trump, following general campaigning efforts. Approximately 11% of respondents mentioned issues related to democracy in recent conversations, a marked increase from just 1% the previous week. This shift indicates a growing concern over the implications of Trump’s potential re-election.
In contrast, discussions around Kamala Harris included conventional campaign themes such as “campaign,” “rally,” and “interview.” References to her tax proposals and a recent rally in Houston, where she spoke about reproductive rights alongside Beyoncé, also gained traction. Overall, 74% of Americans reported hearing about Harris recently, compared to 71% for Trump. However, these figures are lower than the levels of awareness recorded during previous presidential election cycles.
Despite the attention both candidates received, the sentiments expressed by Americans were largely negative. The tone surrounding discussions of Trump and Harris tended to skew unfavorably, with Harris experiencing a decline in positive sentiment since the beginning of her campaign. It’s important to note that sentiment analysis here does not reflect personal feelings about the candidates, but rather the overall positivity or negativity of the language used in relation to them.
In summary, as the 2024 election campaign enters its final stretch, Donald Trump’s unique blend of controversial remarks and theatrical media presence continues to capture public interest, overshadowing more conventional narratives surrounding Kamala Harris. The increasing emphasis on democracy as a topic of discussion illustrates the deep divisions within the electorate, setting the stage for a contentious final week before the election. The juxtaposition of Trump’s antics with Harris’s more traditional campaign messages reflects broader trends in American political discourse, highlighting the evolving landscape as voters prepare to head to the polls.
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