IN PICTURES – The two main candidates in the November 5 ballot are engaged in a real communications battle. An art in which the former President of the United States is a master.
If there were only one left, the image of the 2024 American presidential election campaign would be this: Donald Trump, survivor of an assassination attempt, his clenched fist raised, his face stained with a line of blood, a bloody ear, surrounded by members of the Secret Service, on the stage of one of his meetings, in Butler (Pennsylvania).
It was July 13, less than four months before a vote with results that promise to be extremely close. The Republican and his Democratic opponent are neck and neck in the polls: according to the poll aggregator Figarothe Democrat is just above the former real estate mogul: 49% against 48%. Throughout the campaign, the curves at the national level have only tightened. Just like in the seven key states (Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Nevada) where rivals are engaged in a fierce battle.
Trump the garbage collector, Trump the McDonald's teammate
And to convince, the two main candidates are waging a real communications war. In which Donald Trump is master. Recently (October 30), in Wisconsin, the 45th President of the United States most seriously transformed himself into the driver of a garbage truck on board which he held, in an orange chasuble with yellow edging, a conference press. The day before, Joe Biden seemed to qualify Trumpist voters… “garbage”. Before pleading misunderstanding. Nothing helps: the images of the Republican made the front page of the international press.
Just like those, a few days earlier, where he staged himself in a McDonald's in Pennsylvania. Again, nothing is free. Everything is political. If Donald Trump wore the uniform of the team members of the American fast-food chain, which has become an electoral argument, it is only with the aim of denouncing, according to him, a lie from Kamala Harris. Donald Trump actually accuses her of lying about a summer job that she is putting forward in her campaign without providing formal proof.
Still, the Republican saw fit to declare after serving a few customers (even if the establishment was closed when he came): “I worked 15 minutes longer than Kamala.”
Kamala Harris, a less thunderous campaign
For her part, the former attorney general of California opted for a less thunderous campaign. But she was able to count on strong support. Among them: former President Barack Obama, who took the stage several times to support the vice-president. With the particular mission of mobilizing part of the African-American electorate, courted by Donald Trump and disappointed by the economic record of the Biden presidency, which threatens to turn away from the Democratic Party.
Kamala Harris was finally able to count on many celebrities: the singer Beyonce, the actress Jennifer Lopez, the rappers Eminem and Cardi B and even Bruce Springsteen.