Post-Election Analysis: How Trump Won Despite Expectations

Kamala Harris, official portrait. In the end, Harris just couldn’t get enough votes.

Polls Were Wrong, Trump Won Swing States

Political polls leading up to Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election appeared to show that in the seven states considered to be swing states that could vote either way, both candidates were neck and neck. But that was wrong. Trump won all of these marginal swing states, with clear majorities. He also won over votes from Black Americans and Hispanics that had been expected to go to Harris.

Trump’s Campaign Strategy

Trump held on to his base of voters while making gains with several groups that traditionally vote for Democrats, including young Black men, Latino men and young people, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

“They came from all corners — union, nonunion, African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Arab American, Muslim American,” Trump said after declaring victory early Wednesday. “We had everybody.”

Trump’s Messaging Resonated with Voters

What has stuck is Trump’s messaging and his ability to successfully tap into the concerns of many Americans across numerous demographics. “And that is, ‘I hear you. I understand your struggle. I understand that things are not as good as they could be, and I’d like to help you out. I’d like to make it easier. I’m interested in helping you put more money in your wallet or pocketbook,'” said Samuel Abrams, a professor of politics and social science at Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

“The press and the media like to talk about some of the crazy things he said and all of that, but at the end of the day, it’s been a very strong America First message and a message of, again, ‘I know what you need, and I’m here to help you.'”

Trump’s Campaign Targeted Key Audiences

Trump’s campaign targeted key audiences, often through podcasts and social media. His appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast has drawn almost 47 million views on YouTube.

“They targeted young men. They targeted those that didn’t vote. They targeted those individuals that, you know, have struggled under the last several years of inflation, and that’s paid off,” said Thom Reilly, a professor at the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University.

Harris’ Campaign Challenges

Harris had about 100 days to run her campaign after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July — a rush toward Election Day that may have hurt her chances.

“I think the real challenge that the Harris campaign had was that she had a very compressed period of time in order to run her campaign,” Reilly said, “and she really struggled with, one, distancing herself from Biden, particularly around his economic policy, but also with developing a convincing summary of her agenda dealing on critical issues like immigration and like the economy.”

Conclusion

The outcome of the election shows that Trump’s campaign strategy and messaging resonated with voters, while Harris’ campaign faced challenges in its short time frame. Despite expectations, Trump won the election, and his ability to tap into the concerns of many Americans will likely be a key factor in his success.

FAQs

Q: Why did Trump win despite expectations?
A: Trump’s campaign strategy and messaging resonated with voters, while Harris’ campaign faced challenges in its short time frame.

Q: What were the key factors in Trump’s campaign strategy?
A: Trump’s campaign targeted key audiences, often through podcasts and social media, and focused on his America First message and promise to help voters.

Q: How did Harris’ campaign compare to Trump’s?
A: Harris’ campaign faced challenges in its short time frame and struggled to distance herself from an unpopular president, while Trump’s campaign was able to successfully target key audiences and tap into their concerns.