The election of 2024 is of contrast in candidates. The change in candidacy for the Democratic party has made a turn in this election. The race has been more about the personalities than policies.
Kamala Harris, a woman of color running for president, has brought a new energy to the Democrats, while Donald Trump, a well known businessman, has caught the attention of his fellow Republicans. The change in the Democratic candidate has brought great enthusiasm, however, the race will still be tight.
After the change in candidacy, Harris has received more support from women compared to men. According to The 19th, an article published on Sept 10, 2024, Harris holds a slight edge over Trump– and it’s driven by women, poll finds. Shruthi Menon, a senior at MHS, who plans to vote in November said, “I believe that she can relate to our struggles as a person of color.”
Elections have been becoming more about relatability with candidates rather than policies of the party; elections are candidate-driven rather than party-driven as they used to be.
Although Thomas Kuhn, an AP Government & Politics teacher at MHS, did not notice a shift in the policies of Biden and Harris, there was a change in the atmosphere after the change in candidate.
A Time Magazine article written July 18, 2024, ‘America’s Political Violence Crisis,’ by Vera Bergengruen brought attention to the increased political violence in America. The article stated, “…polls have traced a sharp rise in the share of Americans who believe violence is a valid means to achieve their political goals,” later reminding the readers that, “the last presidential election ended in a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by an angry mob that left five people dead and 140 injured.”
As time has passed, the political violence in America has risen; there have been two assassination attempts on Trump around the time of the election 2024.
Michele Bonadies, an MHS AP Government & Politics teacher, expressed her thoughts on the assassination attempt saying, “It was a reality check that we need to calm down the rhetoric on both sides [meaning political parties].”
Moving from Biden to Harris, there has been a difference in the voters the candidates have approached. Harris has been more center-leaning compared to Biden in hopes of reaching some Republicans along with Democrats.
“You never would have heard Kamala Harris in a Democratic Debate say that she’s a gun owner and she is not taking anyone’s gun away,” Kuhn said.
In their debate on Sept 10, 2024, both candidates tried to put each other down.
“I don’t hear many policies,” Bonadies mentioned.
Kuhn agreed, “I haven’t seen a defined policy position as much…the debate was more about personality and character more than it was about policy and substance.”
A New York Times poll of undecided voters published on Sept 26, 2024 showed that the biggest concerns of swing voters for Trump was his temperament while Harris’ swing voters were also concerned about her personality, but less so than Trump.
The election of 2024 is one of the most critical and tight elections, making the vote of the youth of great importance.
Kuhn points to taxes, the economy and foreign policy as some of the most crucial policies for young voters to pay attention to. Menon conversely considered the reproductive rights of women and gun shootings as important issues impacting young people..
Bonadies said, “Each candidate has completely different views… it is an election of contrast.”
Kuhn talked about the policy of the Republican Party: “In my opinion, Trump’s policy is like the late 1800s tariff policy, the logic of cutting income tax and raising tariffs.” He added, “If you raise tariffs, China is paying the taxes, we are not paying as many taxes, but if the cost of foreign goods is driven up, the cost of domestic goods will be driven up as well because the foreign companies have to charge more to pay more tariffs so that gets passed on to the consumers,” he said.
According to a CBS article updated on Sept 19, 2024, ‘Trump and Harris’ views on China’ by Caitlin Yilek, Harris wants America to have peaceful relations with China while maintaining the best interests of America rather than pulling out of the relations.
This election is one of contrast because of the opposite poles both parties are on. The change in candidate for the Democratic party has brought a new energy to the election. The election is very much candidate-centered rather than policy-centered as voters seek a connection with candidates.
