October 25: From “vibes” to vitriol; manufacturing an October “surprise”

In which, the Democrats try the ol’ Hitler attack on Trump again, Biden tries for a Gaza ceasefire again, the economy sends mixed signals… again.

From “vibes” to vitriol: Manufacturing an October “surprise”

With less than two weeks to go to Election Day and after a decidedly rough, if not disastrous, week of failed media appearances, the Harris-Walz campaign is dug deep into the Democrat playbook for its homestretch strategy and decided to bring back an oldie, but decidedly not goodie: Call Trump Hitler… and Stalin… and Mussolini. Basically call him a fascist, even though Stalin was a communist, but you get the general idea, Trump is as bad as bad can be.

There’s only many problems with that strategy:

1. It didn’t work in 2016.

2. From 2016-2020, Trump did not transform America into the Fourth Reich.

3. Trump’s not the one calling for censorship…

4. Or locking up his political opponents.

5. Far from locking opponents up, he appears ready to extend some grace.

The crazy thing about this most recent “Trump=Hitler” messaging is not just that the charge just isn’t based in reality, but it’s based on the flimsiest assertions of hearsay, which has been roundly denounced by many people purported to be involved with the alleged problematic utterances. 

Still, that hasn’t stopped the Harris-aligned press from doubling down on the story. 

What’s really interesting, though, is to see how little the attempted October surprise appears to have gained traction outside the proverbial “Blue Bubble.” 

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: If the Harris-Walz campaign is trying to woo independent voters, this doesn’t really seem to be the best way to go about doing it. Given that the obvious propaganda appears to have flopped, Harris is in Texas this week attempting to recapture the “vibes” of early summer with a star-studded concert. 

Unfortunately, this amounts to a homestretch push of more of the same vapid appeals that have characterized the Harris-Walz campaign: vibes plus vitriol with precious little substance.

Meanwhile, Trump appears to have gained some ground with younger voters with his recent stint behind the counter at a McDonalds. Trump the entertainer suddenly appears to be winning the authenticity game, especially when contrasted with Harris’ flat CNN town hall. 

Though polls remain close, betting markets are starting to pull hard in Trump’s favor, and his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience today will almost certainly help.

I won’t call this election for Trump just yet, but I will say that the Harris campaign seems out of ideas and energy while the Trump campaign seems to be on cruise control. In perhaps the most significant symbolic blow to Harris, the LA Times, the biggest newspaper in her home state and certainly left leaning, refused to endorse either candidate.