It’s that time of year again for discussion, education, and voting. In this year’s presidential election, two strong opponents, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, are going head-to-head to win America’s vote. But how are they going to promote themselves to the people? Campaigning is important in showing who you are and what you stand for. Let’s look at how Kamala Harris and Donald Trump create an engaging presence for the people. 
Endorsements:
Being endorsed by someone is a big deal. It increases your likeability and credibility, especially if people are undecided. An endorsement can change someone’s mind. When respected individuals or organizations institute public support, it signals to voters that the candidate has the trust and approval of other trusted figures or groups. This can help reduce uncertainty.
According to “Vanity Fair”, many people have endorsed Kamala Harris, some of whom include Oprah Winfrey, Mark Cuban, and Beyonce. Each of these endorsers has a positive display of why they will vote for Harris in this election. They have strong opinions and supporters who will listen to them and be inspired to vote. Most individuals who speak on Harris are passionate about her vision for the U.S. and have advocated for what she supports before she started running. Harris was just the last part of the puzzle.
According to “Deadline,” Trump has notable endorsements from people such as Joe Rogan, Jake Paul, and Tony Hinchcliffe. These, and other individuals, speak highly when it comes to who they believe should win the presidency. The type of people who endorse are very respected and trusted within their community, especially those who focus on politics, which many of them do. Many have spoken out on their platforms to encourage others to do the same and consider Trump.
Rally:
Presidential rallies are essential in mobilizing supporters, reaching undecided voters, building momentum, improving public relations and image, and more. They are also a necessary time to address issues in a community and bring people closer together.
Harris’s rallies have been very successful in the last couple of months. She has had performances by popular artists like Lady Gaga and other figures speaking at them, such as Jennifer Lopez. At Harris’s last rally in Pennsylvania, a swing state, she had over 30,000 people in attendance at the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum, according to “Newsweek.” Harris has given many inspiring and heartfelt speeches at her rallies, proving why she’s the most reasonable candidate for the job. She has encouraged millions of men and women to make a difference in the future and act now to vote. Harris closed her final rally by asking the audience, “Are you ready to make your voices heard? Do we believe in freedom? Do we believe in opportunity? Do we believe in the promise of America? And are we ready to fight for it? And when we fight, we win; God Bless you and the United States of America.”
Meanwhile, he has public figures speaking at Trump’s rallies, such as Elon Musk, especially in swing states, to persuade the majority to vote for Trump. Trump speaks on various topics at his rallies that resonate with his audience and reinforce his political brand. He frequently mentions the alleged 2020 election fraud and promises to reform the system if he returns to power. He also targets problems he wants to handle once in office, such as border and immigration security, economic policies, reproductive rights, etc. Although it’s unclear how many people attended Trump’s last rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan “Newsweek” writes, “He spoke at the Van Andel Arena, which has a capacity of 12,000. Videos show empty seats at the venue, and some videos circulating online appear to show people filing out as he was still speaking. This could be explained by the late hour—the former president was delayed in arriving, didn’t take to the stage until midnight, and spoke until a little after 2 a.m. Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign and the Van Andel Arena via email.” Trump ended his rally with a series of statements that followed, “Together we will make America powerful again, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America healthy again, we will make America strong again, we will make America proud again, we will make America safe again, and we will make America great again.”
Social Media:
On the Social Media end, Kamala Harris has been dominating the space. Especially with new young voters, she is catching the eye of Gen Z and racking up numbers on TikTok, especially on Kamala HQ. Although social media isn’t detrimental to their campaign, it does play a big part in spreading news. Younger audiences are learning about these candidates through accessible sources. Even if they don’t care to do the research, social media is filled with informational videos and posts that inspire people. If it’s clips from interactions, campaigns, or interviews, it will get much more attrition in social media.
Evaluation:
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are utilizing combinations of endorsements, rallies, and social media to build support and engage with voters. Harris has leveraged influential endorsements and large rallies to inspire and mobilize her base, particularly with younger voters. Meanwhile, Trump continues to rally his supporters with passionate speeches, motivated endorsements, and focus on core political issues. Ultimately, both candidates’ strategies successfully aim to sway and energize their supporters.
