Political strategist Sarah Longwell discusses Trump's financial challenges, selling bibles for legal expenses, and targeting Nikki Haley voters. Lis Smith talks about Robert F. Kennedy's VP pick and countering third-party threats. The podcast explores Biden's economic messaging, Trump's merchandising ventures, campaign fundraising impact, and building an anti-Trump coalition. It also touches on swing voters, women's history month celebrations, and the controversy surrounding the VP selection process.
Trump's financial struggles have led him to sell Bibles, facing legal prosecution and alienating potential voters like Nikki Haley supporters.
Biden's economic messaging resonates with voters, emphasizing progress and stability under his administration compared to potential setbacks under Trump.
RFK Jr. targets a diverse audience, focusing on building an anti-Trump coalition with the support of donors like Nicole Shanahan for his campaign.
Deep dives
Joe Biden's Positive Momentum in Battleground States
Recent polls show Joe Biden making gains in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Biden's focused efforts, such as running ads and talking about important issues like healthcare, have contributed to this shift. The positive momentum can be attributed to voters starting to see more of Biden and contrasting him with Donald Trump, leading some undecided voters to lean towards Biden due to their unfavorable view of Trump.
Economic Messaging in Biden's Campaign
Joe Biden's recent economic messaging has resonated well with voters, highlighting progress made since he took office. By focusing on the improvement in the economy and contrasting it with the possibility of setbacks under a Trump administration, Biden successfully conveys a message of moving in the right direction. This approach aims to reassure voters about economic stability while emphasizing the risks of reverting to previous conditions.
Trump's Legal Troubles and Fundraising Challenges
Donald Trump faces legal challenges, with a trial for his hush money case approaching. The financial strain of funding his legal defense has led Trump to unconventional fundraising tactics, such as selling Bibles. His difficulties in raising funds could impact his campaign's viability, as some donors may be hesitant to support his legal battles. Furthermore, Trump's focus on divisive tactics and alienating potential voters like Nikki Haley supporters may hinder his electoral prospects.
RFK Jr.'s Audience Targeting Strategy
RFK Jr. aims to target a diverse audience including Republicans who voted for Biden, independents, and previous Trump voters for his campaign. He focuses on building an anti-Trump coalition rather than a pro-Biden one to appeal to right-leaning independents, soft GOP voters, and those disenchanted with Trump.
RFK Jr.'s Ballot Challenges and Support
RFK Jr. faces challenges in getting on the ballot in multiple states, with key deadlines ranging from May to September. He relies on financial backing from donors like Nicole Shanahan and Tim Mellon to fund signature collection efforts. Critics point out that his campaign, largely lacking policy focus, promotes conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine sentiments, raising concerns about his potential role as a spoiler in the election.
The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell joins Dan to talk about Biden’s post State of the Union uptick in the polls. A cash-strapped Donald Trump is now selling bibles while preparing to be the first President to be criminally prosecuted after his hush money case gets a trial date. Meanwhile, he’s refusing to court the Nikki Haley voters who might make or break his fate in the general election. And Sarah tells Dan about the voters she’s targeting with ads from Republican Voters Against Trump. Later, Democratic Strategist Lis Smith joins the pod to talk about Robert F. Kennedy’s Vice Presidential pick Nicole Shanahan and how the Democratic National Committee is countering the threat posed by third party candidates.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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