MM 3133 - Steelee Harper

 The 2024 U.S. presidential election, marked by Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris, shares similarities with the 2016 election while also highlighting significant differences in voter trends, campaign strategies, and political dynamics. In 2016 , Trump's outsider status and populist messaging resonated with white working-class voters, leading to his electoral victory despite losing the popular vote. In 2024, Trump expanded his base, securing not only the Electoral College but also a majority of the popular vote. This was achieved by building a multi-ethnic working-class coalition, improving his performance among Black and Hispanic men, and increasing support among young men. Trump's campaign also capitalized on key cultural issues, effectively framing Harris as out of touch with centrist voters through targeted negative advertising. Harris faced challenges similar to Hillary Clinton in 2016, including negative public perceptions and difficulties connecting with cert...

Social media has changed the way elections work, and the 2024 presidential race shows how important it has become. Platforms like X , Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , are where candidates connect with voters, share their messages, and gain support. While social media opens up new ways to communicate, it also brings challenges. One big trend in 2024 is the use of short videos. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels are popular for reaching young people. These platforms push candidates to be creative and share their ideas quickly often in less than a minute. Some candidates even join in on popular trends, like dance challenges or funny memes, to seem more relatable while talking about their policies. Misinformation and “ echo chambers ” are also big problems. Echo chambers happen when people only see posts and news that match their opinions. This makes it harder for voters to hear both sides of an issue. Some social media platforms now flag false information and promote trustworthy n...