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Looking back at the aftermath of Tuesday night's presidential debate, one question stands out: Who won? While many will praise Vice President Kamala Harris and accuse the moderator of being biased against former President Trump, the real question is who received more votes after the debate.
This is where you need to draw the line between effective messaging and a solid language strategy. Let's be honest, good messaging is pointless if it doesn't drive results.
Unfortunately, neither candidate seems to have had much impact on undecided voters.
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What Kamala Harris was trying to do
Harris took to the debate stage with a mission to articulate a clear vision for how the next four years under President Biden will be better than the last four.
Vision didn't shine: Though she used her youth to her advantage, her broad vision felt a little flat. Turning the tables: She put Trump on the defensive and effectively exploited his weaknesses. But did that capture voters' enthusiasm? Not necessarily. Style: She certainly impressed with her calm delivery and some standout lines, but let's be realistic: style alone doesn't win votes.
Trump's challenge attracts attention
Meanwhile, Trump had a big job to do: reassure voters of his stability. He needed to appeal to his “fighting spirit,” but instead, what we saw was mostly his “crazy” side.
Trump's two-faced personality: Fortunately for Trump, voters seem to have already priced in his erratic behavior, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter. Missed opportunities: Trump should have played up his strengths on hot-button issues like the economy, inflation and immigration, but was often distracted by Harris' provocations.
There was a clear winner in the Trump-Harris matchup, but don't think the election is over.
Despite not having mastered the messaging game, Trump neatly summed up two key questions remaining after the debate.
Important questions to consider:
“Are you happier now than you were four years ago?” “What's the difference between Kamala Harris and Joe Biden?”
Unfortunately, he did not establish clear answers to those questions, choosing instead to react rather than develop a solid plan.
Messaging Games
Remember: a powerful message is completely wasted if it doesn't inspire action.
Harris' Strengths: She spoke with confidence and had a well-crafted anecdote. Plus, she was able to effectively bait Trump. It was a smart move on her part. She spoke with confidence and had a well-crafted anecdote. Plus, she was able to effectively bait Trump. It was a smart move on her part.
But a survey of undecided voters revealed that her performance left no one impressed.
Voters' thoughts: A lot of people were wondering, “If Kamala Harris becomes president, how will she be different from the presidents we've had for the past four years?” That's a big gap she couldn't fill.
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Messaging and Language Strategy: Important Differences
The main point is this: we need to distinguish between good messaging and effective language strategy.
Connecting the dots: Harris' message captured the audience's attention, but it didn't directly address what voters really care about. Lack of connection: Having a strong message isn't enough if you can't connect with people on the issues they're passionate about.
summary
So while it's clear that Harris may have “won” in terms of her performance, the bigger question is whether this will actually translate into vote counts. Many are wondering whether this will result in a significant change in the polls.
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What both candidates must deliver is a strong language strategy that resonates with undecided voters. Success in this election cycle will require not only delivering an effective message, but also providing clear answers that align with voters' real hopes and concerns.
As Election Day approaches, both Harris and Trump need to stay focused on the ultimate goal of winning voters' hearts and minds, not just their attention, because in the end, it's the vote that really matters.
To read more articles by Lee Hartley Carter click here
