That Closing Argument Thing

Okay, how many of these “closing argument” columns and articles have you seen? Sorry, but I have to add mine to the mix as well. I promise I will be eloquent and compelling as hell, so settle in.

Fascism vs economic arguments

With Trump fully embracing fascist language and the blockbuster news that Trump’s former Chief of Staff and other high ranking Trump officials think he is a fascist, I believe that the Harris-Walz campaign’s approach on saving our democracy and defending our freedoms needs to be part of the closing message. Talking about saving our freedoms and democracy will fire up our volunteers and spur the early vote.

However, all the pollsters I am talking to and all the research I am seeing is clear: we cannot end this campaign by stepping away from or mushing down our narrative on the economy. Working-class voters -- ⅔ of the electorate in the battleground states -- would be angered by a candidate not closing the campaign speaking about the economic challenges that dominate their lives.

In research I have seen from the Doppler project at Future Forward, the most effective messaging right now is Kamala Harris talking about her plans on economic issues, and contrasting it with what Trump plans to do on the economy. Talking about Trump being a fascist is one of the weaker things we can do in terms of persuading swing voters.

Economic Populism 

The good news is that Vice-President Harris has already done a lot to build her approval and support on economic issues. Her first big speech after Biden passed the torch was about price gouging, and it was a big hit in the polling; she laid out an economic plan in a Pittsburgh speech that talked about controlling prices, dealing with housing costs and shortages, and helping small business. Some of her ads, like this one from mid-September, are terrific. And all this economic messaging has definitely helped: polling over the months since Harris became the candidate have shown some solid improvements in how she is viewed on the economy.

But as I have argued multiple times before now, the campaign in its closing argument needs to lean into a stronger form of economic populism. 

The working-class voters who are most of the remaining swing voters, and simultaneously most of the targeted base voters who we need to turn out, have pretty tough lives and aren’t in a happy mood about the economy. They don’t like either political party, and they don’t particularly like either Harris or Trump. They especially don’t like wealthy corporations who they feel abused by in their daily lives, monopolies stomping on small business and workers rights, companies jacking up prices, big real estate companies jacking up the rent.

These voters know Trump is a self-involved jerk, and they know he mostly cares about himself and his billionaire friends. However, they remember the economy being pretty good under Trump, and the economy is still their number one issue. They need to hear not just what is bad about Trump, but that Harris will deliver for them, will be their champion, that she will fight their battles with the rich and powerful for them and with them. These voters need to know that Harris is on their side- not on the side of the donors and lobbyists and DC establishment, but on the side of working families.

If Vice-President Harris shows the American people in her closing message that she will fight for them, fearlessly and forcefully, she will win this election.