David Schultz: Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump is a story about two Americans



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Polls show that if the election were held today, Joe Biden would win. However, there are still three months to go until November 3, Election Day, and the final result is unclear. In fact, only a small percentage of voters in so-called “floating” states will determine the outcome of the elections. All of this shows how divided American society is on this.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump concluded their party’s national conventions in the languages ​​of the nominations. These speeches showed the direction and vision of his election campaigns for the future of America. In the speeches of both candidates, issues that polarize American society and describe opponents as “evil” have become the main focus. In Biden’s speech, the most memorable words describing Trump and the election became the statement: “America is on the brink of an infection outbreak. This is a time of real danger, but also of extraordinary opportunity. We can. choose to be angrier, less hopeful and more divided. This is a path of shadows and suspicion. Or we can choose another path and together seize this opportunity to be healed, reborn and united.

It is a path of hope and light. These are life-changing elections that will determine the long-term future of America. The ballot for this election includes character, compassion, decency, science, democracy. All of this is included on the ballot. That is who we are as a nation. That is what we are fighting for. And most importantly, who we want to be. All of this is on the ballot and there could be no clearer option. “

These are life-changing elections that will determine the long-term future of America. The ballot for this election includes character, compassion, decency, science, democracy.

Similarly, Trump said in his speech on Biden and the election: “As never before, voters have a clear choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, and two political programs. These elections will show whether we will preserve the American dream or allow the socialist political program to destroy our dear destiny. And this choice will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or allow the radical movement to dismantle and destroy it completely. “

The two languages ​​were much more similar to each other than many noticed. Both speeches mentioned God, the light, the goodness of the speaking side, the presentation of the opponents as representatives of evil, darkness and destruction.

Both sides emphasized the threat from the other side. Both sides presented that there is only one option between all or nothing and that it is a fight for the American soul. Little was said in the speeches about the policy proposals and their specificities. Despite the contrary, Biden and Trump’s speeches were meant to be divided rather than united. They addressed the core of the electorate, hoping that undecided voters would not vote for the opponent’s candidate. The speeches demonstrated the division of America and the complexity of a possible reunification after the elections.

Yes, there were also significant differences between the two languages. Trump lied more than Biden, or at least denied the facts more than his opponent. Biden sought to speak to a much more diverse constituency, including young voters, people of different skin colors, townspeople with higher education, and especially suburban women. These voters are more divided than Trump’s voters, who are mostly white, older, rural men with no higher education. Biden supporters are less motivated to vote for their candidate than Trump supporters.

Biden’s supporters see the need for racial justice and access to health care in the case of the murdered George Floyd and the pandemic. Trump supporters, meanwhile, are calling for stricter enforcement of the letter of the law, increased order and the closure of borders to protect the country from immigrants and foreign influence.

In short, Biden and Trump said what they wanted to say in their speeches. They both sought to motivate their constituencies more strongly and basically did. Biden needs swing votes, so he wants to get to them. For Trump, they would not go to the polls at all, nor would they vote for Biden.

Both candidates, in their stories of two Americans, laid the groundwork for a very even future electoral battle in the Electors College. Winning or losing will be determined only by the actions of a few voters in seven states: Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where voters will decide what they fear most and what vision for America’s future. it is acceptable to them.

David Schultz is a professor at Hamline University (USA), visiting professor at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), and a member of MRU LAB’s Justice Research Laboratory.



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