Key Takeaways:
– Ex-President Trump deployed strong language in recent remarks catering to irregular and low-information voters.
– His apocalyptic language may attract a significant subgroup of voters who don’t typically vote.
– Trump’s online supporter Elon Musk echoed this rhetoric, sending a similar message to his substantial following.
Trump’s Controversial Utterances – A Dark Political Tactic?
Over the past weekend, former U.S President, Donald Trump gave an undeniably disheartening speech. He made statements about the supposed ruin of America if he doesn’t win. His remarks included references to illegal immigrants as “monsters” and “vile animals,” suggesting a form of violent action against shoplifters.
The Impact of Trump’s Rhetoric on Voting Patterns
Surprisingly, Trump’s escalating negative words may serve as a strategy to win over undecided voters. The stance is peculiar when considering the tight presidential race and the scarcity of undecided voters. These voters usually lean towards moderation and frown upon extreme political positions.
However, a distinguishing factor exists between voters that are uncertain of their choice and those who have chosen a candidate, but remain unsure if they will vote at all. These undecided individuals resemble ‘wait-for-Netflix’ movie enthusiasts, as opposed to the decisive moviegoer lacking firmness on which film to see. Predominantly, there are more voters in the ‘wait-for-Netflix’ category.
Who are the Persuadable and Irregular Voters?
As political campaign professionals define, voters who require persuasion are termed “persuadable voters,” while those needing motivation to vote are “irregular voters.” Trump’s apocalyptic rhetoric may alienate persuadable voters, but it could resonate with a subgroup of irregular voters. These irregular voters, who are not regularly engrossed in politics, mainly source their political news from social media influencers such as Tucker Carson.
While policy differences may not spur these voters to action, the alleged risk to America’s existence might sway them. Elon Musk, Twitter’s owner (now X), an ardent supporter of Trump, echoed this sentiment to his 200 million followers.
Dissection of Swing Voters versus Non-voters
The media frequently focuses on voters who oscillate between parties. Despite much attention, these swing voters are relatively fewer in numbers compared to those who traditionally abstain from voting. In the 2020 election, which saw the highest national votes in over a century, approximately 80 million eligible voters refrained from voting. Thus, winning over even a fraction of these non-voters could turn the tide in electoral results.
Disregarding the Questionable Morality of Tricking Irregular Voters
It’s puzzling how low-information voters are sometimes manipulated by incendiary and demonizing speeches. It’s even more disheartening when voters and some leaders condone this strategy, aware of its manipulative intent. One can label such individuals the “normies”.
Trump’s normie defenders in office and media tend to downplay his outrageous rhetoric and conspiracy theories. These normie voters, comprising the majority of the electorate, vote consistently. As Trump can count on numerous normies to back him, he’s emboldened to extend his reach to voters stirred up by glorification of bigotry and incivility. Ultimately, the normies may prove the deciding factor in Trump’s potential political victory, further cementing his controversial rhetoric as a winning strategy.
Despite the severity and implications of Donald Trump’s declarations, it remains to be seen how this strategy will impact the political landscape or voter behavior. Will the harsh rhetoric continue to convince irregular voters, or will an increasing number of normies be swayed by such tactics? The answers will be unveiled in due time.