I am an 82-year old Southern (Texas)white woman. I am having some success and continuing quiet fun talking to every person with whom I interact for yard, home, health, or economic services. They are every color, gender, age, and relationship status. Here’s my pitch. Every election is about power. Every candidate for office wants it. Who has the power right now? (And, still). You. You have the power of your opinion and your desire for a life you prefer. Don’t give your power away. Use it or lose it. Vote for who you trust. I have strong opinions about who I trust and why. Here’s who I trust and why. I trust you. Because you are earning your grocery money and house payment by providing me with services I need for a sum of money you earn. You might be amazed to learn how quickly strangers give you the policy hook you need to launch an arrow of fact straight into the heart of their misconceptions.
I’ve been working on 2 colleagues who live in PA. The woman is concerned about abortion although I positioned it as reproductive health because I feel it’s broader than just abortion. For the man, it’s all about taxes. He’s been tougher. I’m brushing up on the impact of tariffs.
I do suspect that "the economy matters more to undecided voters than to more engaged voters" because "more engaged voters" are more likely to have a clue about how "the economy" actually works. IOW, we realize that it's not under White House control. Public policy can make a difference, of course, but the country is still struggling to recover from several decades of Reaganomics/neoliberalism, not to mention a century and a half of red-baiting.
The undecided voters I know are the opposite - economically conservative (they don’t like their “hard earned tax dollars” turning into “handouts”) and socially liberal as far as choice, LGBTQ+ policies, etc. But they always, always vote first with their pocketbook and second with their fear and prejudice.
Great post Dan. Elevating Harris also diminishes Trump because he's no longer the main story. It deprives him oxygen and he's already starting to wither. The voters we need are mostly sick of Trump but just need a nudge to vote for Harris. Thankfully her story and her message are fantastic.
Unfortunately the people in my life who need convincing are those who are unhappy with how Kamala has handled pro-Palestine activists and their fear is that she won't do what needs to be done to end weapon sales to Israel. They're young people who are planning to sit the election out. They're unimpressed with the argument that Kamala is better than Trump. Honestly, I'm pretty convinced by their argument that the Democrats aren't willing to hold Israel to account. How do I even begin to have that conversation?
I see this as the biggest challenge she faces. So many people are so repulsed that they can't bring themselves to vote for her even though the consequence is so dire. What is wrong with her that she doesn't have a more enlightened policy than Biden has? I don't get it.
The internet seems obsessed with anti-trump messaging. How likely is it that the right is secretly boosting anti-trump content creation and visibility online? Would that strategy make sense for them?
Dan, thanks for making this shareable! I have three college aged girls; two are in red states. They have friends who have grown up republican and who, honestly, don’t know much about anything political. Or what they DO know is straight out of Fox prime time. It takes patience and perseverance to open a new way of thinking for these kids. For a lot, it’s a betrayal to their families to vote anything other than republican. For better or worse my girls have grown up with you guys- after all, being a political junkie family is stressful at times!! But at least they know their shit. They have empathy and know how to debate with kindness. Thank you for making it easier to teach them through the years!
"...the largest swath of the undecided universe is not deciding between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. They are deciding between one candidate and the couch."
Do we know anything about whether this group participates in polls?
I am an 82-year old Southern (Texas)white woman. I am having some success and continuing quiet fun talking to every person with whom I interact for yard, home, health, or economic services. They are every color, gender, age, and relationship status. Here’s my pitch. Every election is about power. Every candidate for office wants it. Who has the power right now? (And, still). You. You have the power of your opinion and your desire for a life you prefer. Don’t give your power away. Use it or lose it. Vote for who you trust. I have strong opinions about who I trust and why. Here’s who I trust and why. I trust you. Because you are earning your grocery money and house payment by providing me with services I need for a sum of money you earn. You might be amazed to learn how quickly strangers give you the policy hook you need to launch an arrow of fact straight into the heart of their misconceptions.
Thanks Dan. Exactly the points I needed when canvassing all those low turnout voters. This kind of post is really helpful.
I’ve been working on 2 colleagues who live in PA. The woman is concerned about abortion although I positioned it as reproductive health because I feel it’s broader than just abortion. For the man, it’s all about taxes. He’s been tougher. I’m brushing up on the impact of tariffs.
I do suspect that "the economy matters more to undecided voters than to more engaged voters" because "more engaged voters" are more likely to have a clue about how "the economy" actually works. IOW, we realize that it's not under White House control. Public policy can make a difference, of course, but the country is still struggling to recover from several decades of Reaganomics/neoliberalism, not to mention a century and a half of red-baiting.
Thanks Dan! Great encouragement for those of us doing GOTV in the final few weeks (Wisconsin, here I come!)
The undecided voters I know are the opposite - economically conservative (they don’t like their “hard earned tax dollars” turning into “handouts”) and socially liberal as far as choice, LGBTQ+ policies, etc. But they always, always vote first with their pocketbook and second with their fear and prejudice.
Those who cry “hard earned tax dollars” turning into “handouts" often claim that taxes are theft.
Taxing morbidly wealthy tax evaders and using the funds to assist the needy is not "theft."
The needy are that way due to theft from the GOV'T that made the tax evaders morbidly wealthy.
It's righting a wrong perpetuated against the middle class since Reagan was in office.
"Instead of engaging in a debate about the present, we want a conversation about which candidate is equipped to deliver a better future."
IMO, this is the greatest overall point to reinforce, as an expansion to the other important opportunities.
Agreed
Great post Dan. Elevating Harris also diminishes Trump because he's no longer the main story. It deprives him oxygen and he's already starting to wither. The voters we need are mostly sick of Trump but just need a nudge to vote for Harris. Thankfully her story and her message are fantastic.
Great messages, whether phone banking or canvassing. Thanks, Dan!
Thank you so much. The issues you summarized from Blueprint will be so helpful in our phone banking, canvassing, and even postcards. 40 more days!
Unfortunately the people in my life who need convincing are those who are unhappy with how Kamala has handled pro-Palestine activists and their fear is that she won't do what needs to be done to end weapon sales to Israel. They're young people who are planning to sit the election out. They're unimpressed with the argument that Kamala is better than Trump. Honestly, I'm pretty convinced by their argument that the Democrats aren't willing to hold Israel to account. How do I even begin to have that conversation?
I see this as the biggest challenge she faces. So many people are so repulsed that they can't bring themselves to vote for her even though the consequence is so dire. What is wrong with her that she doesn't have a more enlightened policy than Biden has? I don't get it.
Wow. 💥. Thank you Dan.
The internet seems obsessed with anti-trump messaging. How likely is it that the right is secretly boosting anti-trump content creation and visibility online? Would that strategy make sense for them?
Today I sent in my vote for Kamala & all democrats for Bucks County, PA! 🇺🇸
Dan, thanks for making this shareable! I have three college aged girls; two are in red states. They have friends who have grown up republican and who, honestly, don’t know much about anything political. Or what they DO know is straight out of Fox prime time. It takes patience and perseverance to open a new way of thinking for these kids. For a lot, it’s a betrayal to their families to vote anything other than republican. For better or worse my girls have grown up with you guys- after all, being a political junkie family is stressful at times!! But at least they know their shit. They have empathy and know how to debate with kindness. Thank you for making it easier to teach them through the years!
"...the largest swath of the undecided universe is not deciding between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. They are deciding between one candidate and the couch."
Do we know anything about whether this group participates in polls?