Published on August 9, 2024, 12:33 am

In the political landscape, it’s become abundantly clear that the Democrats have a prevailing understanding in relation to elections — a concept seemingly lost on Republicans. Winning an election, more than anything, hinges on creating and maintaining the right vibe.

The Democrats have shown their tactical acumen by championing candidates who fit a specific image: the vibrant African-American woman, coupled with a jovial man from Middle America. They project what has been dubbed as “happy warriors” in trusted news outlets like CNN while concealing their deep-seated liberal leanings. This is not simply cosmetic; it’s an effective approach that has a plausible chance of succeeding.

Diving deeper into this issue requires realizing that most average Americans engage with politics differently than committed policy buffs or news hounds. Many Americans absorb real news through headlines heard at bars or break rooms rather than poring over detailed policy analysis like fervent enthusiasts might.

While this detatched engagement may be viewed somewhat negatively against the Founding Fathers’ vision of an educated society making informed decisions, not everyone is deeply invested in politics. There’s no harm in having other priorities; however, this does lead to a trend where voting behavior tends to be influenced more by overall sentiment or vibe rather than nuanced policy debates.

This significant influence of public perception is felt vividly when considering recent political players and events. For instance, according to popular perception shaped largely by media narratives (which most Americans trust), the Trump–Vance ticket embodies an aura of hostility and aggressive masculinity. Despite any attempts at reshaping these optics by both men under scrutiny (Mr. Trump recently engaged in an hours-long interview watched by hundreds of thousands), they can’t quite overcome these preconceived notions.

Similar narrative-shaping also affects Democrat representatives Tim Walz and Kamala Harris albeit positively. Even though Walz played his part during—and Harris funded—the 2020 BLM protests which reduced Minneapolis to chaos, they still maintain their image as “happy warriors.” The sentiment garnered is one of affability, authenticity, and joyfulness.

Anyone reading the real news in detail, might uncover Walz’s controversial positions on issues; from promoting unorthodox sanitary provisions in male restroom facilities in public schools to supporting late-term abortions and signing bills allowing abortion-after-birth. Yet such information doesn’t necessarily permeate through to the average voter’s attention—dominated by trending sports events or family engagements.

Victory for candidates like Trump then essentially requires recasting rivals like Harris and Walz into a negative light closely associated with social unrest and anarchy. This needs to be so compellingly well-projected that even passive news consumers instinctively link these connotations, without having to read niche conservative outlets. Unless this is achieved, upcoming elections might just get uncomfortably tight for those on Trump’s side of the spectrum.

Ultimately, understanding the power of political ‘vibes’ is key when considering successful campaigns within this current climate—with all its simplifications, misconceptions and superficial emphasis—is of utmost importance from a Christian worldview which champions truthfulness and fair representation.