What the Harris Campaign Needs to Win, with James Carville and Paul Begala
1Digest
The podcast "Political Scene" delves into the 1992 Clinton campaign, examining its impact on American politics and its relevance to the 2024 election. The hosts begin by discussing the recent Harris-Walls ticket debut in Pennsylvania, drawing comparisons to the 1992 campaign. They then revisit "The War Room," a documentary about the 1992 campaign, highlighting its cultural significance and its relevance to contemporary politics. The conversation explores the generational shift that occurred in 1992, with Bill Clinton's presidency marking a departure from the World War II era. The hosts analyze the campaign's messaging strategies, emphasizing the importance of visual communication and sticking to key messages. They discuss how the "economy stupid" slogan resonated with voters and how the campaign effectively portrayed George H.W. Bush as "yesterday." The conversation shifts to the role of Roger Ailes in the 1992 campaign and his lasting impact on American politics. They discuss how Ailes's tactics, even before the establishment of Fox News, continue to influence political discourse today. The hosts then discuss the calls for a change in leadership within the Democratic Party, particularly the push for Biden to step aside. They explore the motivations behind this sentiment and the potential impact of a new generation of leadership. The podcast analyzes the current political landscape and the 2024 presidential race, discussing the potential for a close election and the importance of messaging around change and the future. The hosts discuss the evolving political landscape and the changing battleground states, highlighting how the traditional "blue wall" states have become more competitive and how the Sunbelt states have emerged as key battlegrounds. The conversation turns to gender politics and the 2024 campaign, discussing the Republican attacks on Governor Walls and the potential impact of these attacks on female voters. The hosts discuss the upcoming Democratic Convention in Chicago and its significance in the 2024 campaign. They highlight the importance of Kamala Harris telling her story and the potential for protests and challenges to the party's unity. The podcast concludes with a reflection on the lasting impact of the 1992 Clinton campaign and the lessons it offers for contemporary politics. They emphasize the importance of change, disruption, and a focus on the future.
Outlines
The 1992 Campaign: A Generational Shift and Cultural Impact
The podcast begins by discussing the recent Harris-Walls ticket debut in Pennsylvania, drawing comparisons to the 1992 campaign. They then revisit "The War Room," a documentary about the 1992 campaign, highlighting its cultural significance and its relevance to contemporary politics. The conversation explores the generational shift that occurred in 1992, with Bill Clinton's presidency marking a departure from the World War II era.
Messaging Strategies and the Power of Visuals
The hosts analyze the messaging strategies employed in the 1992 campaign, emphasizing the importance of visual communication and sticking to key messages. They discuss how the "economy stupid" slogan resonated with voters and how the campaign effectively portrayed George H.W. Bush as "yesterday."
The Enduring Legacy of Roger Ailes and Political Discourse
The conversation shifts to the role of Roger Ailes in the 1992 campaign and his lasting impact on American politics. They discuss how Ailes's tactics, even before the establishment of Fox News, continue to influence political discourse today.
The 2024 Campaign: A Toss-Up Race and the Case for Change
The hosts discuss the calls for a change in leadership within the Democratic Party, particularly the push for Biden to step aside. They explore the motivations behind this sentiment and the potential impact of a new generation of leadership. The podcast analyzes the current political landscape and the 2024 presidential race, discussing the potential for a close election and the importance of messaging around change and the future.
The Shifting Battleground and Gender Politics in the 2024 Campaign
The hosts discuss the evolving political landscape and the changing battleground states, highlighting how the traditional "blue wall" states have become more competitive and how the Sunbelt states have emerged as key battlegrounds. The conversation turns to gender politics and the 2024 campaign, discussing the Republican attacks on Governor Walls and the potential impact of these attacks on female voters.
The Democratic Convention and the Importance of Disruption
The hosts discuss the upcoming Democratic Convention in Chicago and its significance in the 2024 campaign. They highlight the importance of Kamala Harris telling her story and the potential for protests and challenges to the party's unity. The podcast concludes with a reflection on the lasting impact of the 1992 Clinton campaign and the lessons it offers for contemporary politics. They emphasize the importance of change, disruption, and a focus on the future.
Keywords
Generational Shift
A significant change in the dominant values, beliefs, and attitudes of a society, often driven by demographic changes, technological advancements, or cultural trends.
Cultural Significance
The impact of an event, person, or idea on the values, beliefs, and practices of a society, often shaping its identity and understanding of the world.
Messaging Strategy
A planned approach to communicating a specific message to a target audience, often involving the use of key themes, slogans, and visual elements.
Visual Communication
The use of images, symbols, and other visual elements to convey a message or idea, often more effective than verbal communication alone.
Political Landscape
The current state of political affairs in a country or region, including the distribution of power, the major political parties, and the prevailing ideologies.
Battleground States
States in a presidential election that are considered to be closely contested and could potentially determine the outcome of the election.
Gender Politics
The interplay of gender and power in political systems, including the representation of women in government, the impact of gender stereotypes on political discourse, and the influence of gender on policy decisions.
Democratic Convention
A gathering of delegates from the Democratic Party to formally nominate the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Disruption
A significant change or upheaval in a system or process, often challenging the existing order and leading to new ways of thinking and operating.
Agility
The ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changing circumstances, often essential for success in dynamic environments like political campaigns.
Q&A
How did the 1992 Clinton campaign represent a generational shift in American politics?
The 1992 campaign marked a departure from the World War II era, with Bill Clinton being the first president without direct World War II connections. This shift reflected a changing societal landscape and a new generation of voters.
What were some of the key messaging strategies employed in the 1992 Clinton campaign?
The campaign effectively used visual communication, emphasizing the "economy stupid" slogan and portraying George H.W. Bush as "yesterday." They also focused on key messages of change and a departure from the status quo.
How has the political landscape changed since the 1992 campaign?
The political landscape has shifted significantly, with the rise of new battleground states, the increasing importance of social media, and the growing influence of identity politics.
What are the key challenges facing the Democratic Party in the 2024 campaign?
The Democratic Party faces challenges in maintaining unity, addressing concerns about the economy and inflation, and effectively communicating its message to a diverse electorate.
What lessons can be learned from the 1992 Clinton campaign for contemporary political campaigns?
The 1992 campaign highlights the importance of disruption, agility, and a focus on change. It also emphasizes the need for strong messaging, effective communication, and a willingness to adapt to a rapidly evolving political landscape.
Show Notes
The Washington Roundtable discusses the surge of enthusiasm for the Harris-Walz campaign among Democrats in relation to Bill Clinton’s bid for the White House in 1992. They’re joined by the Democratic strategists James Carville and Paul Begala, whose work as architects of that Clinton campaign was portrayed in the 1993 documentary “The War Room.” Plus, a look ahead at next week’s Democratic National Convention.
This week’s reading:
- “Kamala Harris’s Best Campaign Surrogate Is Donald Trump,” by Susan B. Glasser
- “Tim Walz and the Lessons of High-School Football,” by Louisa Thomas
- “Kamala Harris’s Youth-Vote Turnaround,” by E. Tammy Kim
To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send in feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com with “The Political Scene” in the subject line.
Table of contents
United States
what a show, these guys should take over Harris campaign immediately.