2020 Election: Too much, but not enough

Now that there is another 2020 Election thread
Maybe this one should become the Music thread.

 

Give me fascism or give me Canada!

 

So Trump has figured out how to rig the election

It seems the only option is for Dems to urge voters not to vote by mail and either vote early or vote in person.

 

I suspect they should be holding pressers about it with USPS 'witnesses"

 

Those freaking out about who is speaking at convention should really listen to David Plouffe's podcast with the Dem organiser Stephanie Cutter

First thing is, in a normal year you have a gazillion B and C list speakers who will take the podium during low attention times and no one will care or listen. Basically only a small number of speeches really matter - the ones from the big stars. With a virtual convention in one respect you now have unlimited slots for an online on demand audience, but in a very real way, the only slots that matter are the ones that will be live and covered by the mainstream media. So you have bugger all slots to play with. In some ways this is a good thing, because you can finally focus on the tentpole content instead of so much trash.

Second the dynamic is hugely different because really this is just video and not Biden/Harris in front of a vast, excited audience.

This probably changes what you make. One thought is to include more "real americans" and less talking head - but there is also the question of what the media will cover - because they typically will only show what they produce themselves ...

I am fascinated to see how they do this and I think they need to balance between "own content" and the media set pieces

 

Exactly

Going virtual actually focusses it on what matters - which is a handful of keynote speeches

 

I remember this speech:

 

That's what is under discussion apparently

Of course you need your big names Joe, Kamala, the Obamas and then you need to include Bernard and likely AOC for key demos

But there is real diminishing returns from the Clintons, Castro and 100 other Dem B listers compared to strategic content plays

The gold star family got huge coverage in '16

That's why they are doing the Kasich thing and I guarantee you they will have other American stories around Covid

 

A key point Stephanie Cutter made is that this is a completely different format, not just a digital event.

The normal convention is obviously somewhat of a circus and you mainly get your bounce off the media focus on it - because it is a live event, the media descend, and generate lots of content and storylines out of a somewhat artificial context - but it is one well understood in terms of a stage managed photo op. Trumps rallies are similar.

A digital event can be similar in terms of live streams for your own dedicated audience - but that does not so easily work for media, who want to capture their own content, not just play the campaigns rah rah video.

So how do you do that?

I suspect one way will be the same as how the VP reveal was done - small stage live events with no audience?

 

This article is pretty fascinating about the power politics on the dem side. However why should it really be surprising that Obama supported Clinton over Joe? She was way more qualified IMO

What Obama Really Thought About Biden

The way Joe Biden explained it on the campaign trail in Iowa, he and his friend Barack Obama had long talked of Biden succeeding him in the White House, continuing the work of their administration. It was only tragic fate, in the form of the loss of his son Beau, that intervened. Now, after four years, the plan could finally go forward, with Biden running as the administration’s true heir.

Barack Obama, Biden solemnly declared in his campaign announcement in Philadelphia, is “an extraordinary man, an extraordinary president.” On the social media-generated #BestFriendsDay, the campaign posted a picture of “Joe” and “Barack” friendship bracelets. Biden relabeled himself an “Obama-Biden Democrat.”

But behind all the BFF bonhomie is a much more complicated story—one fueled by the misgivings the 44th president had about the would-be 46th, the deep hurt still felt among Biden’s allies over how Obama embraced Hillary Clinton as his successor, and a powerful sense of pride that is driving Biden to prove that the former president and many of his aides underestimated the very real strengths of his partner.​

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/08/14/obama-biden-relationship-393570