The Ad Campaign

2024/11/4

The Daily

Key Insights

Why is television still the preferred medium for campaign ads despite the rise of social media?

Television ads are effective due to extensive testing showing they can emotionally move people. They offer a distilled message without media interference, allowing campaigns to present their vision directly to voters.

How has the Harris campaign used TV ads to introduce herself and address vulnerabilities?

Initially, Harris used ads to contrast her middle-class background with Trump's billionaire status, addressing economic concerns. Later ads highlighted her tough stance on border security to mitigate immigration-related vulnerabilities.

What role has abortion played in the closing arguments of the Harris campaign?

Abortion has become a central issue, with ads featuring personal stories to highlight the impact of Trump's policies on reproductive rights, aiming to mobilize key voter groups, particularly women.

How effective have the Harris campaign ads been, according to available data?

Polling shows Harris has improved her standing on economic measures, with voters perceiving her as more caring about people like them. However, she has not closed the gap on immigration as effectively.

What strategy has the Trump campaign employed in its TV ads?

Trump's ads have primarily focused on tying Harris to Biden, portraying her as a continuation of Biden's policies, and attacking her on issues like gender rights to paint her as too liberal.

How does the Trump campaign measure the effectiveness of its ads?

Polling indicates that voters perceive Harris as more out of the mainstream ideologically, a perception exacerbated by Trump's ads. These ads aim to make voters think about dissatisfaction with the current administration when considering their vote.

What is the overall impact of the high volume of campaign ads in swing states?

Swing state residents are inundated with political ads, with some stations running out of ad space. The Harris campaign has even bought national ads to secure spots unavailable locally, indicating the intense competition for voter attention.

Chapters

Television remains the dominant medium for campaign ads due to its effectiveness in emotional engagement and the ability to bypass media interference.

Television ads are highly effective in moving people emotionally.
Live television, especially during events like football, ensures viewers can't look away.
Campaigns can present their message without media interference or fact-checking.

Shownotes Transcript

By the time it’s over, this year’s race for president will have cost at least $3.5 billion. The single biggest expense will be campaign ads.

Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The Times, discusses the story that each campaign has been using those ads to tell, 30 seconds at a time.

Guest: Shane Goldmacher), a national political correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Donald J. Trump and the Republicans have bet big on anti-trans ads) across the country.
The Harris campaign’s recent Spanish-language advertising has highlighted an insult toward Puerto Rico) at Mr. Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden.
Both parties are running ads that tell voters it’s OK to switch sides. “You can vote any way you want. And no one will ever know),” one says.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily). Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts) or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Ad Campaign 29:15 Share