Harris may have been light on policy, but she was able to bait an ‘unhinged’ Trump into a number of traps

  • Omega@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Unfortunately, I think if she’s too aggressive or mean then it will turn off a lot of swing voters. It’s smart to err on the side of caution.

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      If she were debating anyone else, maybe you would have a point. But you need to hit back hard when debating Donald Trump, because he will never stop hitting you.

      Do you really think there are uninterested voters who would watch the clips of this debate and say “Harris was too mean, so I’m voting for Trump instead?”

      • Omega@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Yes, 100%. It happened with Hillary. You remember the controversy of her deplorable comment, which was statistically factual?

        Moderate Republicans might show up for Trump.
        Left leaning centrists might stay home.
        Swing voters who are friendly to Trump’s economy might “both sides” their personalities.
        Some centrists just give Trump a pass on his personality. But Democrats don’t get the same leeway.

        Unfortunately these are the voters that can swing the election.

        • dhork@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          No, Hillary made the mistake there of insulting Trump voters directly with that comment. Harris went the opposite direction, and pointed out how many former Trump supporters support her now. She is actively courting people on the fence, not calling them names

          • Omega@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            I respect that viewpoint. That was the most famous example. But I know people generally thought she was mean, crass, or shrill because she would call Trump names (accurately) during debates.

            Being aggressive is cathartic for us who pay attention. But swing voters are inherently easier to push away and are inherently not as “sold” on Trump being a national crisis and don’t like being told what to think.

            But I’m just an armchair analyst. So maybe I’m way off.

            • chilicheeselies@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              She (as in her campaign) even did that to progressives. Its was a very divisive election season. It was really hers to lose.

      • Windex007@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        People hold emotionality against people differently based on gender, so yeah, I do.

        The minute she starts to sound like “my bitch ex-wife” that’s going to do something visceral.

        It’s not right or fair, but it is.

        • mriguy@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I’m pretty sure the demographic that talks about “my bitch ex-wife” is mostly in the tank for Trump already.

          • Windex007@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            If you’re so absent from reality that this far in you still haven’t decided if Trump is a bad guy or not, I’m sure you’re statistically more likely to have an ex wife.

            And I agree that anyone who is comfortable saying “my bitch ex wife” on a public forum is already for Trump, but there are plenty of people with ex wives they don’t want to be reminded of.

            Again, I’m not going to sugar coat this: the world is unfair and sexist.