A comprehensive communication analysis of the 2024 presidential campaign
Presidential campaigns are more than elections, they are cultural touchstones that shape national identity and political discourse. The 2024 presidential campaign was a defining moment in American history, marked by political polarization and cultural turns. In The 2024 Presidential Campaign: A Communication Perspective Robert E. Denton, Jr. and a team of esteemed scholars offer an incisive look at the strategies, narratives, and media that influenced this landmark election.
Examining all key areas of the 2024 election through the lens of communication, this timely volume delves into critical facets of campaign messaging, including political advertising and established news media. Discussions of recent developments such as AI-generated content and the expansion of alternative media provide a deeper understanding of how rapid technological advancement impacts both presidential campaigns and American democracy. Each chapter provides unique insights, connecting communication theory to real-world electoral phenomena.
Presents in-depth analyses of televised debates, social media strategies, and advertising Explores the use of humor in computer-generated images and political cartoons Includes chapters on candidate branding and political party conventions Addresses the impact of campaign finance on electoral outcomes Offers the latest insights into digital and mediated campaign practices Provides a unique perspective on cultural and generational shifts in U.S. politics
The 2024 Presidential Campaign: A Communication Perspective is essential reading for scholars and students in Political Science, Journalism, and Communication, particularly those studying presidential campaigns, media and politics, and the presidency. Ideal for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses, it is also a valuable resource for professionals in political campaign management.
By:
Robert E. Denton Jr. (Virginia Tech University)
Imprint: Wiley-Blackwell
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 226mm,
Width: 150mm,
Spine: 31mm
Weight: 567g
ISBN: 9781394250363
ISBN 10: 1394250363
Pages: 432
Publication Date: 14 April 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
College/higher education
,
Undergraduate
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
About the Contributors xv Acknowledgments xxi Preface xxiii Section 1: Political Campaign Communication In the 2024 Presidential Campaign 1 Chapter 1: Setting the Stage for 2024: A Tale of Three Incumbencies 3 Craig Allen Smith Copyrighted Material Presumption and Incumbency 4 Incumbency in 2024 6 Biden: The Actual Incumbent 7 Trump: The Challenging Incumbent 12 Harris: The Heir Incumbent 16 Conclusions 26 End Notes 28 Chapter 2: Getting on Stage: Surfacing for 2024 35 Craig Allen Smith Surfacing in the Early Years 36 Surfacing Since the 1970s: Binding Primaries 38 The Surfacing Landscape Evolves: 1972 versus 2024 41 Trent’s Theory of Surfacing 43 Establishing Expectations of Candidates 44 Determining Front Runners or Serious Contenders 44 Important Issues or Themes Emerge 45 Surfacing Metrics 46 The Aspiring Democrats 48 The Aspiring Republicans 51 The Trump Critics 52 The Newbies 52 The Contenders 53 The Republican Debates 55 The First Republican Debate 56 The Second Republican Debate 59 The Final Three Debates 60 Summary 61 Issue Surfacing for 2024 62 Conclusions 63 End Notes 65 Chapter 3: The 2024 Political Party Conventions: Contexts, Rhetoric, and Curiosities 71 Theodore F. Sheckels The Death of a Genre 73 Media Reversal 77 Agenda 79 The Republicans 80 The Democrats 82 Contents ix Late Twists 85 Curiosities 87 Republicans 87 Democrats 88 Both Parties 89 The Vice- Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speeches 89 The Candidates’ Families 90 The Music 91 Conclusion 92 End Notes 96 Chapter 4: Presidential Debates 2024 101 Benjamin Voth Presidential Debates and Election 2020 102 CNN 2023 Town Hall with Trump 104 Republican Presidential Primary Debates 2024 105 The Critical June 27th Debate 107 The Harris and Trump Debate 111 October 1st Vice- Presidential Debate 114 Did the Debates Matter for the Result of the Election? 115 The Future of Presidential Debates in 2028 116 End Notes 119 Chapter 5: Televised Political Advertising in the 2024 Presidential Election 125 Scott W. Dunn and John C. Tedesco Advertising and Spending 128 Harris and Democratic Ads 132 Biden Ads 132 Harris Ads 134 Contrasts between Trump and Harris 134 Issue Ads: Abortion and the Economy 136 Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 138 Trump and Republican Ads 139 Comparisons between Trump and Harris and Harris and Biden 140 Issue Ads: Immigration, Inflation, and Taxation 142 Ads from Outside Groups/Super PACs 144 Conclusion 148 End Notes 149 Chapter 6: The 2024 Presidential Media Campaign 157 Dan Schill and John Allen Hendricks The 2024 Media and Politics Ecosystem 162 Digital and Social Media Platforms 167 X/Twitter 170 Facebook and Threads 171 YouTube 171 TikTok 172 Podcasts 173 Snapchat 175 The Influence of Celebrities, Influencers, and Pop Culture 175 Communication Technology, Misinformation, and Artificial Intelligence 178 The 2024 Kamala Harris Social Media Campaign 181 X 183 Facebook, Instagram, and Threads 184 Snapchat 185 YouTube 186 TikTok 187 Podcasts 187 Traditional Media 190 The 2024 Donald Trump Social Media Campaign 192 Truth Social 198 Facebook 199 TikTok 200 Podcasts 201 Conclusion 202 End Notes 203 Chapter 7: From Party Conventions to Election Day: Campaign 2024 in Editorial Cartoons 219 Natalia Mielczarek Editorial Cartoons and American Politics 221 Cartoon Dataset, Themes, and Visual Rhetoric 224 Visual Themes in Campaign 2024 at a Glance 225 Contents xi Visual Construction of the “Evil, Hateful and Dangerous Donald Trump” Theme 227 Visual Construction of the “Dumb, Harmful and Indecisive Kamala Harris” Theme 233 Visual Construction of Four Episodic Themes 237 “Excitement over Kamala Harris’s Candidacy” Theme 237 “JD Vance as a Dangerous VP Choice” Theme 239 “Joe Biden Pushed Out of the Presidential Race” 241 “Tim Walz as a Weak VP Pick” 243 Visual Rhetoric, Narrative Arcs, and Campaign 2024 245 Falling Action, Election Day, and Resolution 248 End Notes 250 Section 2: Studies of Communication in The 2024 Presidential Campaign 255 Chapter 8: Impact of Crisis on Candidate Branding in the 2024 Presidential Election 257 Lisa M. Burns and Hilary Fussell Sisco Political Branding 258 Crisis Management and Rebranding 263 Campaign Chaos 265 Impact of Crisis on Harris Brand 268 Impact of Crisis on Trump’s Brand 274 Conclusion 279 End Notes 281 Chapter 9: AI- Generated Imagery in the 2024 Presidential Election: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Potential to Foster Positive Engagement in Future Elections 291 Bingbing Zhang and David D. Perlmutter Definition of AI- Generated Imagery 293 The Role of AI- Generated Imagery in Presidential Elections: An Overview 294 Impact of AI- Generated Imagery on Voters’ Perceptions 295 Ways to Combat AI- Generated Misinformation/Disinformation 296 “It’s Not All Bad”: Broader Context and Future Prospects for Research and Practice 297 Conclusion 299 End Notes 300 Chapter 10: The Tangled Webs They Weave: An Exploration of Interorganizational Connections in the Most Unprecedented Presidential Campaign in History 307 Michele Rees Edwards An Unprecedented Campaign 309 Interorganizational Communication Theory 311 Organizations Involved in a Presidential Election 313 Governmental Organizations 314 Governmental Organizations with Legally Defined Roles in Campaigns and Elections 314 Governmental Organizations That Are Headed by Presidential Appointees 315 Nongovernmental Organizations 316 For- Profit Organizations with Connections to Politics 318 Interorganizational Connections in the 2024 Presidential Campaign 319 Connections Involving Media 319 Connections Involving the Two Assassination Attempts 323 July 13, 2024 323 September 15, 2024 325 Connections Involving Former Democrats Who Endorsed Trump 327 Conclusion 331 End Notes 332 Chapter 11: Saturday Night Live and Political Humor as Argument in Presidential Campaign 2024 337 Benjamin Voth The History of SNL 340 SNL in Election 2024 344 The Al Smith Dinner on October 17, 2024 345 The Comic Conclusion of Presidential Election 2024 346 End Notes 348 Chapter 12: Campaign Finance and Its Impact on the 2024 Presidential Campaign 351 Cayce Myers Campaign Finances and Their Impact on Presidential Elections 354 Democratic Fundraising Pre- Convention: From Biden to Harris 360 Pre- general Republican Fundraising: A Trump Resurgence 363 Trump versus Harris: Campaign Fundraising Post- Convention 366 Does Money Matter in Campaigns? Three Lessons from Election 2024 370 End Notes 371 Index 375
Robert E. Denton, Jr. is the W. Thomas Rice Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Communication at Virginia Tech University, where he previously served as the Founding Director of the School of Communication and of the Rice Center for Leader Development. Denton has authored or edited 33 books, many in multiple editions, focusing on political communication and leadership.
